Topweight Unencumbered is “statistically” the horse to beat in Saturday’s Golden Slipper.
Online bookmaker Sportsbet.com.au reports favourite Earthquake ($2.50) has gone cold in Slipper betting. Unencumbered is steady at $19, while Mossfun ($4.60) is one of the best backed along with Valencia ($26).
“The betting has been turned upside down with the virus scare on Earthquake, she’s really got the blows. We thought we would gather some stats and see if history can help punters find a winner and Undencumbered fares well in most of them,’’ Sportsbet.com.au’s Shaun Anderson said.
Other Slipper statistics and corresponding runners:
Best Barrier: One – Nine winners have jumped from barrier one, including last year’s Overreach – Jabali ($26).
Worst Barrier: Unlucky for some, 13. No Slipper winner has jumped from barrier 13. Earthquake ($2.30) drew 13. But will jump from 12 if the emergency, Scratch Me Lucky ($201), does not gain a start. That puts Unencumbered ($19) into the gate 13.
The Car Park: Queenslander Phelan Ready (2009) is the only horse to win from the widest gate. This year Memorial ($81) starts from the outside alley (16).
Overdue: Barrier nine. The last Slipper winner to win from this alley was Sweet Embrace (1967). Alpha Miss ($26) can break the drought.
Blue Diamond – Slipper double.
Five winners have done the double. Blue Diamond – Golden Slipper Double: John’s Hope (1972). Manikato (1978) Bounding Away (1986), Courtza (1989). Sepoy (2011).
Favourite Earthquake ($2.50) strives to become the sixth.
Best number: There have been 11 winners carry the number one saddlecloth. This year Unencumbered will wear it $15)
Worst: No winner has carried number 14 or 17 to victory. This year: 14-Bring Me The Maid ($11) and 17-Scratch Me Lucky ($201).
Colts have won the Slipper 27 times. Fillies 25 and geldings just five.
Highest rated colt – Ghibellines ($11), Filly – Earthquake ($2.50). Only one gelding, Modoc ($151), competes this year.
Markets courtesy of Sportsbet.com.au
Golden Slipper
(Prices in brackets from Tuesday 1 April)
$2.50 Earthquake (out from $2.15)
$4.60 Mossfun (in from $6.00)
$11 Ghibellines (steady)
$11 Bring Me The Maid (in from $13)
$15 Cornrow (steady)
$17 Oakleigh Girl (in from $21)
$19 Unencumbered (out from $13)
$26 Jabali (steady)
$26 Alpha Miss (steady)
$34 Velentia (steady)
$34 Risen From Doubt (in from $41)
$51 Eloping (steady)
$67 Believe Yourself (out from $41)
$81 Memorial (in from $101)
$151 Law (out from $67)
$151 Modoc (out from $101)
$201 Scratch Me Lucky
