Breeders’ Plate winner begins G1 Golden Slipper quest

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott have the early Golden Slipper favourite in unbeaten colt Storm Boy, but Bott admits their Breeders’ Plate winner Espionage might just be the forgotten horse.

The son of Zoustar was put away after leading home a stable trifecta in the early-season feature, but he is back in the fold and being prepared for a Slipper tilt.

Espionage will take the first step on that path in an 850-metre barrier trial at Randwick on Monday, with the Group 2 Silver Slipper (1100m) at Rosehill on February 24 his likely kick-off point.

“He has been (forgotten),” Bott said.

“He trials Monday. He will be on the traditional Slipper path – the Silver Slipper, Todman (Stakes), Golden Slipper and he will have a chance to put his hand up.”

Also in the heat will be stablemates Prost, who finished third behind Espionage in the Breeders’ Plate, Trunk, a placegetter in the Geelong Diamond at his only start, and undefeated youngster Shangri La Express.

The latter was spelled after taking out the Golden Gift in November and Bott said he was also Golden Slipper-bound and like Storm Boy, had been earmarked as a potential candidate to contest Sydney’s juvenile triple crown of the Slipper (1200m), Sires’ Produce (1400m) and Champagne Stakes (1600m).

“He trials Monday then he’s likely to follow a similar path to Espionage – the Silver Slipper, Todman, Golden Slipper,” Bott said.

“And he could also train on through the triple crown.”

Prost, who will be stepping out for his second trial this time in after scoring a heat win at Canterbury earlier in the month, is further along in his preparations and has been slated to resume in the Canonbury Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill next Saturday week.

“Provided he trials well he’ll head to the Canonbury,” Bott said.

Waterhouse and Bott are having an outstanding season with their youngsters, their form continuing at Rosehill on Saturday where they claimed the two-year-old race with Fully Lit.

The colt is being aimed towards next months $2 million Inglis Millennium (1100m), along with stablemate and Millennium equal favourite Sovereign Hill.