Racing
Ray On Sunday
Who ran the better Golden Slipper trial – Stretan Ruler winning the Silver Slipper Stakes at Rosehill or Streisand taking out the Blue Diamond at Caulfield?
But perhaps Stretan Ruler has a slight edge given he's now had some vital experience on the Slipper course, handling the Sydney way of going easily, running fast time and winning by a decisive margin.
But Streisand was strong to the line at the end of 1200m to win the Blue Diamond and fillies have won six of the last nine Golden Slippers.
There hasn't been a two-year-old dominate and string a few big wins together this season which is why the Golden Slipper is shaping as one of the more open in years.
SLIPPER PICTURE
Perhaps the Golden Slipper picture will become a little clearer – or possibly even murkier – depending on how Warwoven goes in his comeback race, the Skyline Stakes at Randwick next Saturday.
Warwoven was a race-eve scratching when favourite for the Magic Millions last month but Baker said the colt is ready to show his Slipper campaign is back on track.
"He will have a really good gallop on Tuesday,'' Baker said.
"As we know with these animals, it can be day-to-day, but hopefully he comes through it well and then it is full steam ahead to the Skyline.''
Baker confirmed Rachel King will return from another successful riding stint in Japan to partner Warwoven in the crucial Slipper trial.
Baker's other promising two-year-old, Paradoxium, is also trying to bounce back from an aborted Magic Millions campaign when he has a barrier trial at Rosehill on Monday.
"Paradoxium is going really well, I'm very happy with him,'' Baker said.
"But he has a tougher pathway as the prizemoney frrm his Wyong (Magic Millions) win doesn't count to the Golden Slipper.
"Unlike Warwoven, he is going to have to win the Todman Stakes or go very close to get into the Slipper.''
Newgate Farm had an amazing result in the Silver Slipper with five of the top six finishers including the winner, Stretan Ruler, by stallions standing at the Hunter Valley property.
Stretan Ruler is Newgate's boom first-season sire, Wild Ruler, while runner-up Eviction Notice is by another of their emerging debut sires, Stay Inside.
Extreme Choice, Newgate's established super stallion, was represented by Silver Slipper minor placegetter Hidrix, Stay Inside is also sire of fourth placegetter Incognito, already a Breeders Plate winner, and Wild Ruler is also the sire of Savage Look who ran sixth.
STELLAR SHOWDOWNS
Autumn Glow, racing's headline act, meets a star-studded field including Aeliana, Ceolwulf, Sir Delius and Stefi Magnetica in the Verry Elleegant Stakes at Royal Randwick for what is shaping as a Super Saturday of racing.
The support races also features some stellar showdowns with Tempted taking on Apocalyptic in the Surround Stakes while at Flemington Observer and Sixties clash in the Australian Guineas.
But such is Autumn Glow's reputation, she is the $1.30 favourite with TAB Fixed Odds to make it 10 wins from as many starts in the Verry Elleegant Stakes. Sir Delius is next in betting at $6 then Aeliana at $7.
In the Surround Stakes, Godolphin's Tempted dominates betting at $1.50 with Apocalyptic at $4.50 while Observer, also owned by Godolphin, is early Australian Guineas favourite at $2.20 shading the improving Sixties at $2.80.
GODOLPHIN'S WARHORSE
Pericles, the rising seven-year-old Godolphin "warhorse", finally broke through at Group 1 level with his tough win in the Futurity Stakes at Caulfield.
The Bjorn Baker-trained Pericles was having his 32nd start, scored his eighth win and took his earnings to nearly $7 million by defeating Buckaroo and Treasurethe Moment.
It ended a frustrating series of near misses at the top level over the last three years, with six minor placings in Group 1 races and a second placing in the Golden Eagle.
Williams, who has ridden six Futurity Stakes winners, is the only jockey to complete the "Golden Slam" – Melbourne Cup, The Everest, Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Golden Slipper.
Surely, Williams is a Hall of Famer-in-waiting.
LONHRO'S LEGACY
Trainer Joe Pride is enjoying considerable success with some of the late Lonhro's last progeny like Attica, Weeping Woman and Kerguelen.
Attica is one of the most talented three-year-olds in training having won three of his five starts including the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes. He ran a blinder first-up to finish fourth in the Hobartville Stakes last Saturday and is looming as one of the main chances for the Group 1 Randwick Guineas in two weeks.
Weeping Woman is one of the most improved horses in training, having won all her four starts this season including the Group 3 Triscay Stakes.
Rising six-year-old Kerguelen has only had 14 starts for six wins and hasn't even contested a stakes race but he looks ready to win a big race if his first-up effort at Rosehill last Saturday is any indication.
Kerguelen showed elite finishing speed to win the closer, recording 32.63s for the final 600m. the fastest sectional of the meeting.
"I thought when Kerguelen won to end his preparation last year that he could be a lightweight chance in a race like the Stradbroke,'' Pride said.
"He's a ripper of a horse because he handles wet or dry tracks and can race anywhere in a field.
"But the way he has returned this time in, we get a wet track during autumn he might be a chance in a good race.''
The second fastest final 600m sectional of the Rosehill meeting was another Godolphin-owned runner, the Chris Waller-trained Pinito who stormed home in 32.64s to finish an eye-catching fourth in the Millie Fox Stakes won by Cinsault.
NINJA DISTANCE QUERY
The Michael Freedman-trained Ninja was very impressive in the Hobartville Stakes but there is a question mark about his ability to run a strong 1600m in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas in two weeks.
Ninja's regular rider Tommy Berry is convinced the gelding won't have a problem over the Randwick mile course but the Hobartville winner is on the third line of Guineas betting at $4.50 behind Autumn Boy at $3 and Sheza Alibi at $3.50.
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