A bunch of two-year-olds, led by top prospect Warwoven, will get their ultimate shot at Golden Slipper qualification via the Magic Night Stakes and Pago Pago Stakes.
Warwoven, the colt currently 18th in line, stands to gain with expected late scratchings of two ahead and automatic slots for Saturday’s two trial winners, so trainer Bjorn Baker refuses to take chances on omission.
Having been controversially pulled from the Gold Coast’s Magic Millions Classic in January over lameness concerns from Racing Queensland vets, he ran a brave fourth in the Skyline Stakes (1200m).
Baker trains both this horse and Paradoxium, the Todman Stakes winner from last weekend who shares Golden Slipper favouritism, and he predicts Warwoven will peak now.
“He is going to come on, no doubt about it,” Baker said.
“He’s probably even got a touch more improvement from where Paradoxium is at the moment.”
Gai Waterhouse alongside Adrian Bott enter four across the card: Tulloch Lodge’s By Choice and Lumbini in the Magic Night Stakes (1200m) for fillies, Plagiarism and Drumfire in the Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) for males.
By Choice has placed in each of her four races, with a standout third in the Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m), and Bott indicates she thrives in fast-run affairs.
“She is going to appreciate high-pressure races, and appreciate a bit further in time,” Bott said.
“But she has been so honest throughout her career. She’s tough, she puts herself up on pace and she has drawn to do so again.”
After being blocked for a run when unplaced last out in that race, Lumbini should step up, but Bott wants a strong showing to justify a Slipper tilt.
Plagiarism mirrors this, always competitive in three outings, fifth and narrowly behind Campione D’Italia in the Skyline Stakes (1200m).
“I’d like to think we’re seeing nice, gradual improvement from him at each stage of the prep and he’s another one, he’s on a path to give himself a potential opportunity to have a look at a Slipper,” Bott said.
“All those three would be outside the field at present and would need to be winning their way in, and we’d be wanting to see the right performance from them as well to be starting.”
Drumfire arrives fresh off a Muswellbrook debut success last Sunday, and Bott is positive on the quick backup.
“It’s different form lines, and he is a really natural two-year-old type,” he said.
“He did it pretty easily at Muswellbrook and he’s open to nice improvement. He has pulled up really well and that gave us a chance to have a look at Saturday.”
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