The Golden Slipper is always one to watch, and it’s my chance to make sure people remember Dance Hero, the 2004 winner from one of the best two-year old races of all-time. Seriously!
Dance Hero beat half a dozen Group 1 winners, with those behind him including champion and super stallion Fastnet Rock, super-mare and four-time Group 1 winner Alinghi, who remains, in Damien Oliver’s opinion, the best two-year-old he has ever ridden, plus Stakes and open Group 1 winner Charge Forward. Fifth was Tahni Girl, which won a Group 3 and two Stakes races, and the list goes on.
Even the horse in tenth, Econsul, went on to win the Caulfield Guineas later that year.
It was a freakish race.
Yet Dance Hero was never ever given the credit he deserved as a two-year old.
I’m telling you we’ll never ever see a two-year old like him again.
He was a little gelding, third in his first race, the Breeders Plate when he blundered at the start. He smartened up and came back to win the Royale Handicap at Rosehill, then win the Magic Millions, where he was then given a break before being brought back to win the Skyline.
He had a winning trial, then won the Slipper, where he still holds the race record to this day.
Incredibly, he went on, Saturday after Saturday, to take the AJC Sires Produce and the Champagne Stakes, without a break, to win the Triple Crown.
No horse has done that since – not even the brilliant Pierro can say he won the Triple Crown and the Magic Millions.
Dance Hero – if he’d been a colt – would have been worth more than any other stallion to date. He could’ve fetched more than $50m, easily. He won close to $4m in prize money for his owners anyway.
Only a mother would have ever loved him for his looks, and his head was all wrong, but he took to trackwork without any fuss and he was never in doubt for me.
People talk about Luskin Star – a champion, no doubt, who won the Slipper by seven or more lengths – but Dance Hero was the one for me.
Getting on now to the 2015 Golden Slipper, it will be an interesting one. I don’t have a stand-out pick – obviously Gai’s horse Vancouver is the favourite. It would’ve been more clear if it’d drawn a bit better.
As I’ve said for years, nine out of ten times, the best horse wins the Slipper. The most seasoned horse and the best horse. Octagonal and others have been unlucky over the years, but usually the best horse gets up
My advice to the Slipper jockeys racing tomorrow isn’t any more than to treat it like any other race. Try and think of it like it’s a maiden at Goulburn. It’s a big atmosphere, but be relaxed; don’t let it get to you and give your horse every possible chance.
I was asked this week with the Golden Slipper coming about and not having to make the weight as a retired jockey; now that the leash is off with weight, is there a temptation to just go for broke and finally eat whatever I want?
It’s a good issue to discuss. I must admit it was foreign to be able to saddle up to breakfast, lunch and dinner without restriction.
Now, it might sound silly, but having much more regular meals meant I got to a point where I didn’t even feel like eating.
As a wasting and dieting jockey, I’d constantly be craving food. By lunchtime, I’d be starving. I’d be wanting sugars and salts. It’s the dieting that does it – making you crave.
I’d say now, just by eating more regularly, I might actually be eating less, because I’m not craving it as much and getting food without having to wait for it.
Of course, I’m also keeping active through my work as a trainer which is definitely another factor.
I’m pleased to be able to talk about my first city winner from last Saturday, my Dynamic Syndications galloper Perplexity leading from the barrier to post to score.
Now he came to us with exposed Sydney form, and he’s a very strong stayer, winning nicely even though he wasn’t well treated at the weights. We’re hoping he’ll make his way through the grades to look at something like a Caloundra Cup.
I’m keeping a lid on things just for now. I’m here to train my horses as best we can get them and get them into the right race. I just want to set all my horses right and move forward with them.
If they can’t race competitive, I’d rather wait for another day for them to get right
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