Golden Slipper winner Vancouver will be the headline act at Rosehill on Saturday as he looks to continue his unbeaten run in the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes.
The boom colt will step out in the famous colours of the China Horse Club for the first time as he chases yet another stakes victory.
The regally bred entire does have history to contend with however with only two Slipper winners continuing their unbeaten run at 3. These two were of course Baguette, in 1970 and the exciting Pierro, who was able to complete the two year old triple crown before winning his further two starts at three.
Gai Waterhouse, trainer of both Pierro and Vancouver has a very big opinion of the latter, frequently telling the media of the difficulty in providing a suitable training partner such is the ability of the son of Medaglia D’oro.
The enormity of the task is demonstrated by the race records of the other five unbeaten slipper winners, including Sebring and Vain who both failed to maintain their streak.
Furthermore, only two Golden Slipper winners have ever managed to emerge triumphant in the San Domenico, they were Sir Dapper in 1983 and Tierce in 1991 – a world ago in racing terms. Should Vancouver take the victory on Saturday, not only will he forge a name for himself as a genuine equine superstar with the looks to boot, but he will move towards demanding a service fee upwards of $70,000 upon his retirement – presumably at the conclusion of the season.
Vancouver is however forced to contend with a formidable field which includes fellow Golden Slipper runners Headwater and Haptic. Team Hawkes’ Headwater looks to have matured into a stronger colt since his last run based on his trial form and Japonisme will bring race fitness and winning form to the 1100m event. Both will be difficult to beat along with the Snowden’s Redzel.
Having defied wide draws before, Vancouver will be forced to work for his position once again having drawn barrier 7 of 8. Retaining the services of gun hoop Tommy Berry, Vancouver will be given every chance to salute – currently paying $1.90 after being backed in from $2.20. Punters have shown little love for other runners, with Redzel on the second line of tote betting at $6.30.
Tomorrow’s Rosehill card provides the valuable Gai Waterhouse trained entire with the opportunity to write the course of history once again and also to join an elite group of gallopers as he chases his third Group 3 victory.
Vancouver is racing against history and statistics, just as he will right through until his retirement. With the spotlight upon him, will he defy the historical odds and prove his worth by extending his unbeaten run to five on the trot? He certainly looks poised to do so and true superstars will win whatever the barriers.
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