Golden Slipper favourite heads Skyline Stakes entries
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott missed out on the Blue Diamond by a short-head and provided the Silver Slipper Stakes quinella last Saturday, but they will produce their No 1 Golden Slipper seed this weekend.
Storm Boy’s anticipated return to the races will take place in Saturday’s $300,000 Group 2 Skyline Stakes at Randwick.
The 1200-metre event will be Storm Boy’s first start since obliterating his rivals in the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic on January 13.
The son of Justify, who scored a 6-1/4-length trial win at Rosehill on February 15, is accompanied among the Skyline Stakes entries by Prost, a Snitzel colt who was a first-up winner of the Group 3 Canonbury Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on February 3.
“Storm Boy and Prost will take their place (next week),” Bott said.
“Storm Boy has trialled up excellent and Prost, he was an impressive last-start impressive winner.
“They’re in great shape and I’m looking forward to having them both back at the track.”
Anode is also among the Skyline Stakes, but not guaranteed to take his place alongside his stablemates, while the James Cummings-trained Parkour and Ciaron Maher’s Odinson are among the others entered.
Storm Boy heads Golden Slipper betting from the Chris Waller-trained Switzerland ($7) with Waterhouse/Bott youngsters the next five with Aussie betting sites.
Straight Charge and Espionage, who were the first two home in the Silver Slipper, share the third line of betting from Lady Of Camelot, who was nabbed in the final couple of strides in the Blue Diamond, with Shangri La Express and Fully Lit next in line.
Lady Of Camelot’s Blue Diamond conqueror, Hayasugi, is next in the market, marginally in advance of Prost.
Waterhouse and Bott also have Too Darn Lizzie and Chateau Miraval entered for Saturday’s $300,000 Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m), but despite fillies filling the first four in the Blue Diamond, Bott remains convinced the colts are holding the aces this year.
“I think the colts have got more depth and are stronger this year,” Bott said.
More Racing News
War Machine to target the 2026 Australia Stakes
Top-class sprinter War Machine will resume in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Pakenham on Friday night as connections eye a strong autumn campaign. The race, traditionally held at Moonee Valley, has been moved due to redevelopment works and shapes as an ideal launchpad for the Lindsay Park galloper. War Machine...
Antino to target 2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the Autumn
A strong trial session at Deagon on Tuesday will be highlighted by the return of Antino as Tony Gollan begins plotting another autumn campaign for the talented gelding. Antino has not raced since his disappointing effort in the Group 1 Cox Plate, where he finished last after failing to fire on...
2026 Golden Slipper Stakes favourite Incognito nearing return to the races
The absence of Incognito from the Magic Millions 2YO Classic did little to dent his standing in Golden Slipper markets, with the colt edging closer to a raceday return. Michael Freedman elected to sidestep the Gold Coast feature with the $1 million purchase, instead opting for a controlled trial as the...
Torque To Be Sure breaks maiden in 2026 Magic Millions Guineas, survives protest
Torque To Be Sure finally lived up to his promise with a breakthrough victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 3yo Guineas, though his success came with a nervous wait in the stewards’ room. The Matthew Dunn-trained gelding drifted under pressure in the closing stages, bumping race favourite Ninja as the...
Mile no issue for Merrigold in 2026 Vobis Gold Distaff
Trainer John Sadler admitted a touch of stubbornness delayed Merrigold’s step up to 1600 metres, but the mare made him look wise with a dominant Flemington victory. The five-year-old was having her first start beyond 1400 metres and handled the rise in distance with ease when taking out the Vobis Gold...
Future History too strong in the 2026 January Cup
Future History showed his class and toughness when landing the $200,000 Listed January Cup at Rosehill, giving Ciaron Maher another feature race success. The eight-year-old almost didn’t take his place in the race after heavy rain downgraded the track, but connections elected to press on despite concerns about the conditions. Ridden positively...
Big Sky surges into 2026 Blue Diamond Stakes calculations
Big Sky’s dominant debut at Flemington has propelled him straight into calculations for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), giving Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr the top two runners in early betting. The Bivouac colt overcame a wide draw in the TAB We’re On (1000m), travelling strongly under Jordan...
Golden Slipper Stakes 2026 plans for Godolphin’s Outspan
The Godolphin-trained Outspan has thrust himself into Golden Slipper calculations after a commanding win at Rosehill on Saturday. After settling just behind the speed in the 1100m contest, the Michael Freedman-trained colt finished strongly to defeat Long Throw ($15) by 1-1/2 lengths, with Miss Chanel ($4.60) another half-length back. The performance marked...
Unit Five powers home in the 2026 Magic Millions Classic
Unit Five announced himself as a rising star with a powerful victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, overcoming far more seasoned rivals despite limited race experience. The Ciaron Maher-trained colt, ridden confidently by Thomas Stockdale, held off Tornado Valley by a length, with By Choice finishing just behind...
Tony Gollan’s two-year-old Itching To Go in 2026 Magic Millions Classic
Tony Gollan is leaning on a proven strategy as Itchintogo lines up on a seven-day backup in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) this Saturday. The approach has delivered strong results historically, with six winners of the $3 million race following the same path over the past 15 years. Purchased for $60,000...