Golden Slipper day at Rosehill: Group 1 previews and tips

Golden Slipper day at Rosehill is one of the greatest race days in the country, and there is every argument to suggest it should be ranked number one.

Five Group 1s await us, so let’s get stuck in with no further preamble.

Golden Slipper
Colts versus fillies is always a key rivalry in a Slipper, but this year it seems there isn’t much between the divisions, at least at the top of the market.

Tony McEvoy’s filly Sunlight is the market-elect overall and heads up the fillies side. She’s unbeaten in five starts this prep, including taking out the Magic Millions, Silver Slipper and Magic Night at her last three runs.

She puts herself in the race and is hard to break down. From barrier five, she’ll be right there again.

Blue Diamond winner Written By heads up the colts and may challenge for favouritism on the day. He’s unbeaten, and couldn’t have been more impressive in winning the Diamond.

He had a bridging run in between there and the Slipper, winning the Pago Pago. He’s also the only horse in the field that’s been exposed to heavy conditions on race day.

Sandbar was second to Written By in the Pago Pago but just couldn’t reel him in after sitting off him. Being a Snitzel colt has to be a plus given the wet track that will be present.

Santos is in the market for Gai Waterhouse, but we might have expected more in the Skyline even if he did win it. The bunch finish didn’t inspire confidence that the Slipper winner would come from there, but Sandbar came out of it to push Written By.

Performer has had his share of publicity for the wrong reasons after dumping Hugh Bowman in the Todman when he was a $2.10 favourite. Chris Waller has put the blinkers on to focus him up.

Seabrook must be taken seriously, given her Melbourne form has stood right up, and then she came to Sydney and won the Sweet Embrace with ease after not having many favours. She’s right in it.

Estijaab has only been beaten once, when Sunlight got the best of her in the Silver Slipper, and must be improving with race experience given she only debuted in late January. The Hawkes yard knows how to peak them for this kind of assignment.

A number of others are chances, including Aylmerton, Ef Troop, Enbihaar, Oohood, and possibly even Prairie Fire.

The speed should be hectic given there are at least half a dozen horses that like to be right up there and the unknowns are which part of the track is the place to be, plus the question of who will handle the heavy going.

Selections: 1.Estijaab 2.Written By 3.Sunlight 4.Oohood

George Ryder Stakes
Winx will be on display again for us all to treasure, and generally speaking, the wetter the track the bigger her margins. Let’s enjoy her once more.

(AAP Image/Joe Castro)

It’s fantastic for racing to see Kementari take her on. He’s proven himself to be the best three-year-old of the season, and that always translates well to weight-for-age racing in autumn.

Happy Clapper was outstanding in winning the Canterbury Stakes upon resumption. 1500m suits him better, but having Winx in the field does not.

Clearly Innocent can improve out of the Canterbury, and loves the wet. Invincible Gem is super consistent, and is a proven Group 1 commodity. Crack Me Up is honest, but meets a crack line-up here.

Selections: 1.Winx 2.Kementari 3.Happy Clapper 4.Clearly Innocent

Ranvet Stakes
The Melbourne and Sydney WFA form collides in the Ranvet, with all connections looking to get a Group 1 win at 2000m before running into Winx in the Queen Elizabeth.

Surprisingly enough, the Vics provide most of the runners with five of the nine horses coming off an Australian Cup run.

Harlem was the winner there, taking advantage of the inside bias on the day to sprint sharply. He’s shown he can mix it, but has never really appealed as a true WFA type.

Gailo Chop has the most solid WFA credentials in the field, and finds himself in the red accordingly. He was good in second behind Harlem and simply swims on wet ground. He is clearly the one to beat, but would like some peace up front.

Ventura Storm throws in a good run from time to time, as he did when third in the Australian Cup, and can again, but is hardly trustworthy.

Single Gaze is itching to win again, and was arguably the run of the race in the Australian Cup, coming from near last against her preferred racing style and the bias of the day, to run fifth.

The Taj Mahal took the Australian Cup field along a merry dance up front, and couldn’t help but tire first up. You wouldn’t write off his claims at all, given he’ll be better for it.

Of the Sydney-siders, Prized Icon is clearly the pick of the bunch, but is finding it hard to win. He gets to a good combination of distance and WFA for the first time this prep, and can win.

Classic Uniform can fill a hole. Sarrasin and Consensus would be surprise winners, but can certainly run well.

Selections: 1.Gailo Chop 2.The Taj Mahal 3.Prized Icon 4.Single Gaze

The Galaxy
There’s not much better than a good Group 1 sprint handicap. There are usually many chances, and there are good opportunities to play on something at odds.

That said, this year could well be a benefit for Jungle Edge. He’s possibly the best “mudder” in the country (Winx aside, who is the best at everything), and gets his favourable conditions.

He ran second to Redzel first-up at WFA, and sprint form doesn’t get any better than that. That was on the good, so he’ll be lengths better here. He has to carry 5.5kg’s above the minimum, which is the steadier, but the heavy track gives him an edge worth more than that.

From Melbourne, Supido’s runs in the Lightning Stakes and Newmarket Handicap have him right in the conversation if he maintains that form. Snitty Kitty was second in the Oakleigh Plate behind Russian Revolution, who won the Galaxy last year, so that ties her in.

She’s very, very smart.

Sydney provides some well-credentialled horses, but it’s hard to know exactly where they’re at. Le Romain has a lot of weight, and isn’t a 1100m horse. We’re used to seeing more from English first-up than we did in the Challenge, but she looks well weighted on her best.

(AAP Image/Craig Golding)

Takedown hasn’t threatened for a while, and is a dry-tracker anyway.

In Her Time has enough weight for a mare, but has proven to be one of the best and most consistent sprinters we’ve got. She might be better suited at WFA level though, especially in Brisbane later on.

Ball of Muscle looks overs based on his form this season, and won’t know himself with 53kg’s on his back.

Viridine is the lone three-year-old in the field with the scratching of Pariah, and is a talented galloper sure to make his presence felt. A widish barrier and hot speed are both in his favour, especially if the middle or outside of the track is the place to be by race eight.

Selections: 1.Jungle Edge 2.Supido 3.Ball of Muscle 4.Viridine

Rosehill Guineas
The Rosehill Guineas presents us with another even betting race, and once again we see the Melbourne and Sydney form collide, except this time there are a handful of Kiwi’s in the mix as well.

They are always a threat in the three-year-old races on wet tracks at this time of year.

Ace High has been building beautifully this campaign, waiting to get to 2000m and beyond where he is unbeaten and twice a Group 1 winner. The only problem: he’s had four starts on soft or heavy tracks but hasn’t figured in the placings.

Of the six others that used the Randwick Guineas as their lead-up, D’Argento is the one you want to be on stepping up to 2000m, and the market reflects it accordingly. He has a touch of class about him, and should be strong late.

Cliff’s Edge is the best of the Victorians, and has been incredibly consistent throughout the 2017-18 season, collecting five wins and a number of placings. He goes forward, asks the others to catch him, and is very tough. Whatever beats him will have been made to earn it.

Five of the first six home in the New Zealand derby three weeks ago present in this race, all of them dropping back from 2400m to 2000m.

Vin De Dance and Mongolian Conqueror were locked across the line there, with the former just getting the edge. He has been heavily backed as the week has gone on, and money for the Kiwis at this time of year usually means something.

Villermont and Kaonic are chances to fill out the multiples, while Main Stage was disappointing last start and could be a bolter to keep an eye on.

Selections: 1.D’Argento 2.Cliff’s Edge 3.Ace High 4.Main Stage