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
Concord Connie eyes Victorian Group 1 success
Charlotte Littlefield, the Pakenham-based trainer, is opting against chasing substantial prize money in interstate races with Concord Connie, focusing instead on securing a Group 1 win within Victoria.The exciting mare, Concord Connie, has undergone four weeks of preparation and is being readied for her return, with the Group 1 Empire...
Midnight Dynamite's Path to the Big Dance After Rosehill Win
Connections of Midnight Dynamite are keen to see the horse contest a $3 million prize following his commanding performance in the Winter Challenge at Rosehill.Having added Saturday's stakes race to his triumph in last month's Listed Civic Stakes (1400m), the gelding is now slated for the Coffs Harbour Cup (1600m)...
Bold Soul's future may be over jumps after Flemington success
Connections have found Bold Soul, trained by Patrick Payne, to be a good earner on the flat, but his future might be better suited to hurdles.Bold Soul secured the Deane Lester Flemington Cup 1849 (2800m) at Flemington on Saturday, adding to his seven prior wins from 33 starts and boosting...
Sword Of Legacy's determined win follows Band Of Brothers' Ramornie success
Matthew Dunn's stable has enjoyed a prosperous week, capped by Sword Of Legacy's hard-fought victory at Rosehill. This triumph arrived just three days after Band Of Brothers, carrying the same lime, purple, and gold Hesket Thoroughbreds silks of David Moodie, captured the Ramornie Handicap at Grafton.Sword Of Legacy, sent out...
Ko Phangan claims Byerley Handicap at Flemington
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young stable continues its impressive run in qualifying races for Classic contenders with Ko Phangan's recent victory at Flemington.Ko Phangan's win in the Byerley Handicap (1800m) secures a coveted ballot exemption for either the Victoria Derby (2500m) or the VRC Oaks (2500m) during the Melbourne...
Joint Venture earns carnival ticket with Rosehill triumph
A late-developing two-year-old, Joint Venture, is now in contention for the initial three-year-old feature races after securing a crucial win at Rosehill.The impeccably bred son of I Am Invincible, a $625,000 yearling acquisition for the Newgate stallions syndicate, displayed significant progress from his debut second at Wyong, asserting his class...
Betwitchery ready to extend winning streak first-up
Betwitchery is set to extend her winning sequence as she makes her return to the racetrack at Flemington.The Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin-trained mare is scheduled to begin her new racing campaign in the VRC Member Brendan Sobozynski Plate, a 1200-metre contest, this Saturday.Betwitchery, who has won five...
Littlefield targets Magnolia Cup after Flemington engagements
Trainer Charlotte Littlefield is scheduled to travel back to the UK in approximately a week to participate in a charity race at the renowned Glorious Goodwood Festival.The Magnolia Cup is a distinguished charity event this year supporting Education Above All. It aims to gather funds to ensure access to education,...
General Salute set for Winter Challenge under favourable wet conditions
The arrival of overnight rain has alleviated Sterling Alexiou's primary concern regarding General Salute's prospects in the final black-type race of the Sydney season, following his recent victory in the Winter Stakes.All four of the gelding's previous wins have been recorded on rain-affected tracks. Earlier in the week, with Rosehill...
Burning Heartz set for Adelaide Stakes test
Trainer Gavin Bedggood envisions a future for Burning Heartz in an Oaks race, but his immediate goal is to secure some valuable Stakes black type for the filly.Burning Heartz, a winner on debut at Sandown on July 1, is now heading to Adelaide to contest the Group 3 South Australian...