Magic Millions winner Driefontein is emerging as Gai Waterhouse's leading hope to topple raging favourite Samaready in Saturday's $3.5m AAMI Golden Slipper.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The Fastnet Rock filly is one of five two-year-olds the powerful Waterhouse yard will be saddling up in the race, and Driefontein comes into the race fresher than her stablemates having not run since winning the Widden Stakes (1100m) on February 18.
Jono Murphy, whose family part owns the youngster, said the break had done their horse the world of good.
“Word out of the stable is she is flying, she is looking really good,” Murphy said.
“She's run over the last two weeks quicker than she was running before the Magic Millions.
“The Widden Stakes wasn't the greatest one she's ever won but she had guts to fight it out, she was beaten and fought back to win and two-year-olds don't do that.
“She went off a little bit after that but now the word is she's just glowing. Everyone in the stable is super happy with her they love her in there.”
Only No Looking Back has had a similar break to Driefontein, with her last appearance a second placing in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) on February 25 behind Samaready.
Of the other Waterhouse runners, Raceway ran second in the Skyline Stakes (1200m) on March 17, Pierro won the Todman Stakes (1200m) a fortnight ago and Later Gator ran fifth in last weekend's Magic Night Stakes (1200m).
Pierro has attracted most interest from punters out of the Waterhouse quintet, but is drawn potentially awkwardly in gate one.
Driefontein (8), No Looking Back (3), Raceway (9) and Later Gator (10) are much better placed.
Murphy firmly believed Samaready was beatable.
“I think if we get the jump, like she did in the McLachlan up in Brisbane where she broke the race record, I think it'll take one hell of a horse to bring her down if she's leading into the straight on her terms,” Murphy said.
“It's going to be a very close field. I'm probably more worried about No Looking Back, it's flying too.
“I think it's going to be one of the best Slippers run in a while.”
