The focus in Sydney turns to the Golden Slipper on Saturday as the makeup of the famous two-year-old race continues to take shape on Silver Slipper Day at Rosehill.
The 1100m sprint feature sees last start winner and top Slipper fancy Hidrix lining up, while the Hobartville Stakes also shapes as a strong betting contest with the Chris Waller-trained Autumn Boy resuming.
We could have some wet weather about on what also looks to be a hot day in Sydney, so if you’re looking for an early leg up, check out our race-by-race Rosehill tips on Silver Slipper Stakes Day down below.
KILBRANNAN (8) is worth forgiving on a disappointing effort off a let-up last start at Warwick Farm.
The Pierata colt was right bacm in the run over 1200m, spotting the rest of the field several lengths. He made up some ground in the run home but ultimately was last to greet the judge of a seven-week break.
His previous win over 1400m at Kembla Grange was solid mind you, bolting in from the trail to go clear by just over three-quarters of a length. A truly wet track would test him, but he’s drawn to get a nice soft run this time from a better barrier and is worth another chance.
NEW PHAROAH (2) maps to get a nice cart into the race from midfield.
The Cavanough-trained gelding out of American Pharoah resumed an impressive two-length winner over much shorter at Belmont to start the month, showcasing a solid turn of foot along the rail to really knuckle down over the late stages.
He mixed it here at Saturday grade last time in work, notably finishing just outside the money in a Class 3 race over the track and trip last May.
The potential for a wet track will be right up his alley with Jason Collett also experienced in the saddle.
The unbeaten BEV’S NINE (1) looks like one of the hardest to beat in a pretty open sprint race.
This is one of the toughest assignments he’s contested, but there’s a lot to like about his prospects coming off a four-week break after last winning over the track and trip by close to 1.5 lengths.
His trial between runs at Canterbury was solid and he should be up on the speed again running his usual race in front.
LA ROJA (12) can mix her form, but there’s a bit to like about Peter Snowden’s mare after going very close to beating the in-form Cinsault a couple of weeks ago at Randwick.
The blinkers go on now for the first time ahead of her third run back, and I feel she’s still open to natural improvement given she was competing off a four-week break last start.
A previous winner on heavy going, she should appreciate some juice in the track with the gate offering Chad Schofield plenty of favours.
LORD PENMAN (2) goes around on his home track looking to pick up where he left off over the spring last year.
The Waller-trained son to Contributer ran a distant second to Linebacker in the Silver Eagle, wrapping up his prep a luckless second last in his grand final two weeks later where the gate and the ride from Joao Moreira did him little favours.
He’s trialled up nicely ahead of his return though and gets James McDonald on board this time from a gate that offers a few options.
Showing previously he can run a good race fresh, this trip looks right in his wheelhouse back from a spell.
Banking on J-Mac getting it right this time aboard CONFEDERATION (4).
Chris Waller’s colt over raced and was a little green on debut in the Group 3 Canonbury Stakes a few weeks ago, although that didn’t stop him running on well to finish just over 1.5 lengths off his stablemate, Hidrix.
He’s drawn an identical gate second-up and I do wonder if a soft track might help him after trialing quite well in similar conditions back in January.
PIGGYBACK (14) looks a genuine improver for mine second up out of the Ciaron Maher camp.
The daughter to Trapeze Artist won the Group 3 Colin Stephen Quality over much further here at Rosehill last September, then going on to finish midfield in The Metropolitan where she was far from disgraced up until the final furlong or so.
She handed in an honest effort when beaten 4.8 lengths over the mile at Randwick a fortnight ago, a trip well short of her best. Out over further now and likely to relish wet going, she’s a big chance down at the weights from the inside gate.
AUTUMN BOY (1) returns for Chris Waller looking to pick up where he left off over the spring when he claimed the Caulfield Guineas in a very impressive showing as the second favourite.
The Autumn Sun prodigy has been given two handy trials between runs to sharpen up for this assignment as he looks to add to a first-up record that include a win and a place.
He’s got a tricky gate to overcome, but the blinkers come off now for the first time and we’re getting a decent price at publish.
LAZZURA (1) has most of this year’s Millie Fox field covered in terms of class.
A previous Group 2 winner, the Waller-trained mare has enormous upside heading into her third autumn campaign, highlighted by a last start fifth in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes over the spring where she had plenty of work to do from a horror gate.
She’s never set the world on fire at the trials, but her latest hit out here at Rosehill was very encouraging when third to Caballus and Lord Penman.
If she slides across early and finds cover under J-Mac, the pair should be very hard to hold out when it counts.
Looks to be some good speed engaged in the last, which should be right up the alley of the resuming TONKIN (9).
The Godolphin mare has been nothing but honest during her short career, cashing a cheque in all seven races she’s contested – which includes a runner-up to Beast Mode at The Valley last time out.
She’s looked a peach in recent trials and is one of the hardest to catch providing 1100m doesn’t prove too sharp for her fresh from a break.