Golden Slipper 2021: Even playing field reflected in betting markets

Four Moves Ahead is the only two-year-old protecting an unbeaten record going into the most open $3.5 million Golden Slipper in years at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

There is no dominant juvenile in this year’s race which is reflected by early TAB Fixed Odds betting with Profiteer as favourite at $5 just ahead of Stay Inside ($6) and Artorius ($7).

But the John Sargent-trained Four Moves Ahead, rated a $9 chance and the only filly in Golden Slipper betting under $26, is a likely firmer if she fares well at Tuesday’s barrier draw and with the likelihood of a rain-affected track on Saturday.

Four Moves Ahead has won her two starts on tracks rated a soft 6 and heavy 8 so the forecast of a wet week in Sydney doesn’t concern Sargent.

The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!

“We are very happy with the filly, she has improved a lot since winning the Sweet Embrace Stakes,’’ Sargent said.

“She will have a gallop at Randwick (Tuesday) morning and that will top her off for the Slipper. If we happen to get a wet track, then obviously that won’t be a problem for her, either.’’

The Golden Slipper field is starting to take shape with the Australian Turf Club likely to get three late entry fees of $150,000 by the 11am deadline on Monday — Artorius, Rocket Tiger and Tiger Of Malay.

Nash Rawiller on Four Moves Ahead takes out the Sweet Embrace Stakes.Source:Getty Images

Co-trainers Richard and Michael Freedman have Stay Inside (jockey Tommy Berry) and Glistening (Jean Van Overmeire) safely in the Slipper field and are sweating on a start for Tiger Of Malay.

“It’s looking more likely he will miss out on the Golden Slipper, we will see what unfolds (Monday) but if that is the case then we concentrate on the Sires with Tiger Of Malay,’’ Michael Freedman said.

“As for Stay Inside and Glistening, they are doing everything right in their preparations. It would be nice if we had some luck at the barrier draw.’’

In the latest Golden Slipper order of entry, Tiger Of Malay, comes in at 19 and his chances of gaining a start hinge on whether Godolphin accepts with their quartet, Anamoe, Ingratiating, Paulele and Arcaded, and whether crack Kiwi colt Sword Of State makes the trip over to Sydney.

Sword Of State scored his fourth win from five starts when he won the Group 1 Sistema Stakes at Ellerslie last Saturday and is tentatively booked on a flight to Sydney this week but trainer Jamie Richards is having second thoughts about a Slipper start with the prospect of a rain-affected track at Rosehill.

Godolphin trainer James Cummings is certain to run Anamoe and Ingratiating but hasn’t decided on Slipper starts for Paulele and Arcaded. He has Damien Oliver and Rachel King booked for the Golden Slipper with a final decision on their ride to be made after the barrier draw.

The Freedman family also has Blue Diamond winner Artorius, trained by Anthony and his son Sam, among the leading Slipper contenders. Luke Currie will ride the boom colt who trialled well the Sydney way of going at Randwick last Thursday.

Chris Waller has his biggest-ever Golden Slipper representation with three colts, Home Affairs (James McDonald), Shaquero (Kerrin McEvoy) and O’President (Glen Boss) safely in the field.

“I think all three colts are fairly versatile,’’ Waller said. “They have the ability to settle in their races, they have good heads on their shoulders to help them handle the day and they have had good preparations.

Trainers Peter and Paul Snowden have Black Opal winner Kalashnikov (Mark Zahra) and borderline entry Captivant (Tom Marquand) in the big race.

Captivant was a race morning scratching from the Pago Pago Stakes last Saturday even though the colt is not a certain Slipper runner.

“I’m glad we didn’t run Captivant because it was a very hot day and it would have taken a lot out of him,’’ Peter Snowden said.

“We have given him his best chance to run well in the Golden Slipper by missing that race. We are just hoping he can make the field.’’

Gai Waterhouse, who co-trains with Adrian Bott, is aiming for a record eighth Golden Slipper if Swift Witness (Tim Clark) squeezes into the field.

Mugatoo, ridden by Hugh Bowman, wins the All-Star Mile at Moonee Valley.Source:Getty Images

HUGHIE PROVES HE’S NO MUG IN MILE

Hall of Fame jockey Hugh Bowman, who produced a masterly ride on Mugatoo to win the All-Star Mile at The Valley, is chasing a second successive Golden Slipper when he partners Profiteer.

Bowman won the Golden Slipper last year on Farnan and is convinced Profiteer is the right type of two-year-old to win the big race.

Kris Lees, trainer of Mugatoo, lauded Bowman’s ride in the All-Star Mile while outlining Sydney carnival plans for his stable star.

“Mugatoo was always travelling like the winner but coming to the turn it was starting to look a bit ugly,’’ Lees said.

“Damien (Oliver, rider of runner-up Russian Camelot) could see Hugh was in a bit of trouble and tried to keep him there but Hugh got the gap and the horse was too good.

“We are still considering the Doncaster Mile for Mugatoo where he has 55.5kg but definitely the Queen Elizabeth Stakes is his main target now.

“Whether he runs in both, I’m not sure. He is the type of horse who could do the seven-day back up but we will look at all the options.’’

Lees is hoping to keep his stable’s big-race winning momentum going at Rosehill on Saturday with Gem Song set for the George Ryder Stakes, Collide and Raheen House will line up in the Manion Cup and Attention Run is going to the Epona Stakes.

“They are all good wet-trackers so I’m hoping this rain that is forecast does come during the week,’’ Lees said.

“I’m thinking of running Gem Song in the Ryder Stakes as the race usually attracts a champion most years but there isn’t one this year.

“Gem Song won the Newcastle Newmarket well last start and if we do get a wet track it might be the right year to have a go at the Ryder.’’

WHAT A RACE!

MUGATOO IS THE ALL-STAR MILE WINNER!! pic.twitter.com/yYaTY4VNj1

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GOLDEN SLIPPER ORDER OF ENTRY

Rosehill Gardens, Saturday

Order Horse Trainer

Eq1 Anamoe James Cummings

Arcaded James Cummings

Shaquero Chris Waller

Home Affairs Chris Waller

Glistening Richard and Michael Freedman

Four Moves Ahead John Sargent

O’President Chris Waller

8 Artorius N/N Anthony and Sam Freedman

9 Ingratiating James Cummings

10 Profiteer Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr

11 Kalashnikov Peter and Paul Snowden

12 Sword Of State Jamie Richards

13 Stay Inside Richard and Michael Freedman

14 Rocket Tiger N/N Scott Spackman

15 Paulele James Cummings

16 Mallory Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou

17 Swift Witness Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott

18 Captivant Peter and Paul Snowden

19 Tiger Of Malay N/N Richard and Michael Freedman

20 Zethus James Cummings

Tim Clark on Krone wins the Coolmore Classic at Rosehill Gardens.Source:Getty Images

ROSEHILL SNAPSHOT WITH RON DUFFICY

RUN OF THE DAY
Although she got all the breaks with a perfect Tim Clark ride Krone really produced the goods winning with enough weight in the Coolmore Classic. Krone is a mare that is right in the zone and proved she is not just a superior wet tracker.

FORGET THEY RAN
It may have been the big one that got away with Vangelic who used her barrier to secure the perfect run to the turn – but that’s where her luck ended. She could not securing the run that Kathy O’Hara wanted and we will never know if she would have won.

THE BLACK BOOK
By the time the last come along the track had dried out so much it was near impossible to make ground. Nudge did just that making up many lengths with an eye catching first-up run. Chris Waller will find the right race for her within her next few starts and she will be hard to beat.

RIDE OF THE DAY
Not very often you are forced to go with a losing ride as the best but if Mizzy would have it would have been declared one of the all-time best Group 1 rides from Regan Bayliss. From barrier 15 without overusing his mare Regan found himself in a great spot three back the fence and presented her beautifully. The ride deserved a better fate.

NSW RACING – THE WEEK AHEAD

Monday: Scone, Nowra

Tuesday: Hawkesbury

Wednesday: Kensington

Thursday: Newcastle, Albury

Friday: Albury, Port Macquarie

Saturday: Rosehill Gardens, Kembla Grange, Queanbeyan, Casino, Inverell

Sunday: Muswellbrook, Orange

Originally published asWhy this Golden Slipper will be like no other

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