Racing doesn’t get much more enthralling than what Golden Slipper Day produced at Rosehill yesterday. Our analyst has black booked a Waterhouse/Bott stayer that was terrific in the Ranvet, a colt that looks on track for the Darby and a consistent G1 performer that had no luck in the George Ryder.
Sir Delius
The imported stayer was outstanding in the G1 Ranvet. He stepped half a stride slow and found himself settling last, which was far from ideal. It’s hard to know whether this was pilot error or whether the plan was to take the back of Aeliana. He was still 3L off the 2nd last Waller mare when he made his run at the 600m before closing off strongly down the outside to finish 1.1L 3rd, doing his best work the final 100m. His 34.69s final 600m was only 0.01s off Aeliana’s.
He was giving away race fitness to Aeliana and Lindermann being only 2nd up and should be spot on for the G1 Queen Elizabeth. I wouldn’t want to be with him taking on Autumn Glow but if she heads to the Doncaster then I think he is a bet peaking 3rd up in what has been an odd program. I imagine he will be sent for a short spell post QE before heading to the Brisbane Winter Carnival as the preferred grounding for a Cups tilt in the spring.
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Green Spaces
The Baker colt was a big improver stepping up to 2000m 3rd up in the G1 Rosehill Guineas. He settled 2nd last before beginning his run from the rear at the 500m. He wound up steadily down the outside and was strong right through the line. Whilst he was no match for Autumn Boy, he wound up strongly the final 200m suggesting his he is well placed to eat of the 2400m in the Darby in a fortnight’s time where he will avoid the Waller colt.
Pericles
The Futurity Stakes winner was outstanding in the G1 George Ryder. The merit of the run may sneak under the radar with the deserved plaudits going the way of Autumn Glow. He was ridden aggressively out of the gates but found no luck trying to find a spot one off before drifting back to settle off midfield where he was still 3-wide before the turn. He was entitled to be weak late but still put in right to the line to finish 3.1L 3rd and only just edged out by Gringotts who enjoyed a much more economical run.
It may be hard to find a bet for him over the remainder of the autumn. With 57kg in the Doncaster he will be giving away big weight to the likes of Sheza Alibi. He is a couple of lengths off the cream of the current crop like Autumn Glow, Aeliana and Sir Delius if he heads to the Queen Elizabeth. The rising 6yo continues to go to new levels for the Baker team and he’s the sort of horse I want to be with in big races that may be lacking a star or two.
