Take two for Bodyguard in G1 pursuit in the Golden Slipper

The disappointment of missing out on a Blue Diamond Stakes start will be all but forgotten if Bodyguard can stage an upset in the $5 million Golden Slipper.

A smart winner of the Blue Diamond Prelude, the colt was one of the top fancies for Melbourne’s premier juvenile event before he was controversially scratched by veterinary officials on race eve when they deemed him to be lame.

Trainers Peter and Paul Snowden quickly regrouped, sending Bodyguard to Sydney where he got his preparation back on track with a closing fourth behind Golden Slipper second favourite Switzerland in the Todman Stakes.

Making the effort all the more encouraging was the fact Bodyguard had been given just one preparatory gallop leading into that race.

“As Peter Snowden said, the Todman was the run he needed to have,” managing owner James Harron said.

“He’d only had one gallop in three weeks, and he hit the line well.

“He has come on beautifully since and worked really nicely (Tuesday) morning on the Kensington track.

“We’re going in there with a beautiful colt that we think, provided he can handle the conditions, will be a big player in the race.”

By high-profile stallion I Am Invincible, Bodyguard cost $1.6 million as a yearling and at that price, is the most expensive youngster lining up in Saturday’s Golden Slipper (1200m).

Harron says Bodyguard has a different conformation to many of his past purchases, including 2016 Slipper winner Capitalist.

“I wouldn’t say he is typical of a lot of our horses in the past, but in his own right, he’s a real alpha male, he’s got a wonderful presence and a great attitude,” Harron said.

“He’s a real big, strong mover. He’s not that smaller, nuggety type two-year-old. He has a lot of size and presence.”

Bodyguard is part of the bloodstock manager’s colts’ partnership, as is first emergency Espionage, a $1 million yearling buy.

The Breeders’ Plate winner needs a scratching to force his way into Saturday’s race after an unlucky fifth in the Todman Stakes when he was checked at the top of the straight.

But if Espionage can gain a start, Harron will have two genuine top-five chances.

“We’ve got a wonderful group of partners who make it possible, and the Slipper is our number one focus, so to have potentially two representing us is excellent,” Harron said.

“It’s a very deep race from start to finish. You can make a case for a lot of them, and you can see that from the prizemoney they’ve accumulated.

“A lot of these horses were very nice yearlings and they’ve developed into beautiful two-year-olds and a lot of them are very well bred.

“It looks a quality, stand-out year.”