Local youngster Charlie Boy has topped off his preparation for Saturday's $3.5 million Golden Slipper Stakes with a soft second in a barrier trial at Rosehill this morning.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Charlie Boy, one of two Slipper runners from the Gerald Ryan stable, ran home strongly from last in his 900m trial to finish a half head second with his Slipper rider Glyn Schofield aboard.
Stablemate Dothraki, to be ridden by Corey brown on Saturday, pulled up well from his second in the Pago Pago Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday and was free in actriuon when he had a trot and canter this morning.
Melbourne jockeys Michael Rodd and Craig Williams were also at Rosehill to ride their Slipper mounts in track gallops.
Melbourne filly Villa Verde (Rodd) worked over 1000m and was asked to step up the pace over the last 400m.
WIlliams was reunited with New Zealand filly Ruud Awakening when she worked on the course proper with the older Hot Snitzel.
Williams won the Karaka Miliion on Ruud Awakening at Ellerslie in January and reported that she felt very comfortable on the Rosehill track.
Hugh Bowman got the first feel of his Golden Slipper mount Criterion when he worked on the sand track at Rosehill with a stablemate.
David Payne booked Bowman after Glyn Schofield preferred to ride Charlie Boy and Craig Williams could not give him an early commitment. .
In Golden Slipper gear changes Sweet Embrace Stakes winner Romantic Moon will wear winkers.
The John O'Shea trained filly, to be ridden by James McDonald, worked in the gear at Randwick today.
The Bjorn Baker-trained Windjammer was the surprise inclusion when the final field was declared today, leaving Havana and late entry Il Cavallo as the two emergencies.
Trainer Peter Snowden paid up for Saturday's Pago Pago Stakes winner Sidestep with Kerrin McEvoy declared as his rider as expected. He joins stablemates Kuroshio (Josh Parr) and Guelph (Christian Reith).
Gai Waterhouse did not pay up for Shahad leaving her with the favourite Overreach (Tommy Berry), Whittington (Nash Rawiler) and Sweet Idea (Jim Cassidy) as her three runners.
