The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Farnan has moved back to the top of Golden Slipper 2020 betting markets for Saturday with two horses also scratched from the Rosehill Gardens feature.
Farnan is back on top of the 2020 Golden Slipper markets at Rosehill for Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart.
Emergency runners Rathlin and Minhaaj have gained a start in the coveted 16-horse Group 1 $3.5 million Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) on Saturday following the withdrawal of Global Quest and Cellsabeel.
The Chris Waller-trained Global Quest came out on Wednesday due to an elevated temperature, while connections of one-time favourite Cellsabeel made the tough call to scratch the filly on Thursday morning.
Prepared by Ciaron Maher & David Eustace, the daughter of Hinchinbrook didn’t pull up 100% after a piece of work and has been taken out of the world’s richest race for two-year-olds.
“Having completed her final gallop this morning she went to the beach post work. It was clear, having cooled down she wasn’t 100%,” the stable’s statement to Racing NSW said.
“It is very disappointing for his Highness Sheikh Khalifa, racing manager Tim Stakemire and the team at Ciaron Maher Racing.
“However, we look forward to giving her a spell and spring 2020.”
The stable still have a commanding presence in the Golden Slipper field with four runners led in betting by last weekend’s Group 3 Pago Pago Stakes winning Redoute’s Choice colt Prague.
Prague is a $15 shot in the latest Golden Slipper odds to do the double last completed by Stratum back in 2005.
The other best for Maher & Eustace is their Magic Millions 2YO Classic winning filly Away Game at $16.
Drawn barrier three with Glen Boss to ride, the talented Snitzel filly is looking to return to winning form following her close fourth when only 1.35 lengths off the winner Tagaloa in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 22.
When the Golden Slipper field and barriers were announced on Tuesday, it was the Blue Diamond winner Tagaloa heading the markets.
The Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young-trained Lord Kanaloa colt drew well in gate six as he looks to turn the tables on his last start conqueror Farnan after the duo ran the quinella in the Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on March 7.
Tagaloa has now eased out to $5.50 and currently occupies the second line of Golden Slipper Stakes betting with the Todman Stakes winner Farnan firming into $5.
Hugh Bowman chases a third straight win aboard the son of Not A Single Doubt having ridden the gun colt to his two lead-up victories in the Group 2 Siler Slipper Stakes (1100m) and Todman this prep.
With Peter & Paul Snowden’s Reisling Stakes winning filly Dame Giselle out to $10, the only other single-figure fancy is now the Anthony Freedman-trained Hanseatic ($6.50).
Jumping from barrier nine with Kerrin McEvoy aboard, the Street Boss colt won his opening three career starts before his last start second in the Blue Diamond that he will be out to improve on fresh here having his maiden Sydney start.
The early Golden Slipper market mover meanwhile is Waller’s lightly-raced Hungry Heart ($26 into $16) to be ridden by James McDonald from barrier five.
McDonald is after his second Slipper success having guided fellow filly Mossfun to victory back in 2014 and could be on a genuine chance with Waller’s daughter of Frankel.
Hungry Heart has had just two starts for a second at Flemington on debut in January behind Jabali Ridge before her eye-catching Randwick win in the Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m).
Click here for the updated 2020 Golden Slipper markets courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.
