The top juvenile contenders from Melbourne and Sydney are set to face off as the placegetters from the Blue Diamond Stakes take on the leading locals in Golden Slipper betting at Randwick.
Victorian runners Tentyris and Tycoon Star, who secured second and third place in Victoria’s premier two-year-old event, will challenge standout youngsters Wodeton, North England, and Beiwacht in Saturday’s Todman Stakes (1200m).
While early betting markets favor the Sydney-trained horses, Tycoon Star’s co-trainer Ben Hayes is eager to see how their colt measures up.
Tycoon Star burst onto the scene with a debut victory in the Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) during the spring. In the Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), he was forced to race wide from an outside barrier but closed impressively, finishing just over a length behind the winner.
“He was a little bit of a victim,” Ben Hayes said.
“Unfortunately, the barrier didn’t work out. It wasn’t a fast run (Blue) Diamond, it was a sit and sprint and he was an eyecatcher from the back on a day that was hard to make ground.
“He has come out of the race really well. We’re really excited, the Todman will top him off beautifully for the Slipper.”
Recent history shows the Todman Stakes has been a strong form reference, with Farnan (2020) and Vancouver (2015) completing the Todman-Slipper double, while Cylinder (2023) and Anamoe (2021) won the lead-up before placing in the Group 1.
Hayes acknowledges that facing the top Slipper contenders will be an invaluable experience for Tycoon Star ahead of the prestigious two-year-old feature.
“That’s his competition and a couple of runs into his grand final is important for him,” he said.
Meanwhile, fellow Victorian trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman are reconsidering their plans for Tentyris after drawing barrier 11 of 12. Sam Freedman suggested they may instead target the Pago Pago Stakes (1200m).
“He has drawn poorly, so it remains to be seen. We might wait a week with him,” Sam Freedman said.
“But he’s in great form. He travelled up there really well and worked well on Tuesday.”
