Jade Marauder took a big step towards qualifying for the $3.5 million Golden Slipper with an impressive win at Canterbury on Saturday.
The filly finished third on debut in the Listed Gimcrack Stakes in October and announced herself as one of trainer Chris Waller’s Slipper prospects with a professional display to take out Saturday’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale Plate (1200m).
“The goal is to be running her in the Golden Slipper and performing well so whatever we do between now and then will be geared towards that,” Waller said.
“She’s not going to be rushed. The good thing is we’ve got plenty of time up our sleeve and that’s something, getting the timing right for these races, that I’ve struggled with a bit in the past.”
Waller nominated the Widden Stakes at Warwick Farm in three weeks as Jade Marauder’s next target.
The daughter of Fastnet Rock had to contend with the outside barrier in the field of 10 and jockey Glyn Schofield elected to go back to sit second last.
Jade Marauder ($3 fav) worked into the race approaching the home turn and once she straightened on the outside she went after the leader Almighty Charge.
Almighty Charge ($9) was attempting to add to Gai Waterhouse’s tally of juvenile winners this season but was no match for Jade Marauder over the concluding stages as she strode away to score by a length.
Waterhouse’s other runner Rampaging ($4.60) did his best work late to be another 1-1/4-lengths away third.
Waller is yet to have a starter in a Golden Slipper after Fast And Sexy was scratched at the barriers last year.
He said Jade Marauder was one of a number of youngsters in the stable being sent on a path towards the big race at Rosehill on April 7.
“We’ve got three or four other unraced horses that are going into a Slipper preparation,” Waller said.
“We’d have probably five that are in her range. Fundido is one of them and he’s been a bit disappointing and that’s how quickly things can change.”
Schofield and Waller combined to win the first two races after Nocturnelle was successful in the opening event.
