Four stables will have multiple runners in the $5 million Golden Slipper, and co-trainer Sterling Alexiou is thrilled that his stable will be among them.
Alexiou, along with his business partner Gerald Ryan, will saddle up Black Opal Stakes winner King Of Pop and last weekend’s impressive Pago Pago Stakes victor Skyhook as they aim to claim their first victory in the world’s richest juvenile race.
Other stables with multiple runners include Hawkes Racing (Devil Night, West Of Swindon, and emergency Nepotism), Tulloch Lodge (North England, Farcited, Bellzaine), and Godolphin (Beiwacht and Tempted). However, the latter two stables have significantly larger numbers of horses on their books.
For a smaller stable like Ryan and Alexiou’s, having two runners in the Golden Slipper is a notable achievement. “We earmarked these two pretty early on as Slipper candidates, and for them to get this far and line up in the race, it’s very pleasing for all the staff at home, and for Gerald and myself,” Alexiou said.
“We’ve had quite a few runners over the years. You could probably say they were making up the numbers, but I think we’ve got two live chances this year. In what looks a pretty even year, I’m really happy to have both our horses in.”
Skyhook, who has drawn barrier eight, is backing up from his dominant victory last Saturday. He aims to become the fifth horse since 1984 to complete the Pago Pago Stakes-Golden Slipper double, with Shinzo being the most recent to achieve this feat two years ago.
Alexiou reports that the youngster has recovered well and believes his versatility will be a key asset. “Of our four runners at Rosehill last weekend, he probably came through it the best, which is a good sign leading into Saturday,” he said. “Off a pretty sedate tempo, he gave a really good kick, and that’s one thing he does possess—a really good turn of foot. He can settle anywhere in the field. He is very adaptable, and he seems to be a very smart animal.”
While confidence in King Of Pop’s chances has been tempered by his outside draw in barrier 18, Alexiou remains optimistic. If jockey Zac Lloyd can overcome the barrier, Alexiou is confident the colt has the ability to feature prominently. “He has always put his hand up from day dot. The first time we let him down over a furlong, he showed a great deal of ability,” he said. “He has got a great constitution and a great attitude to go with it, and that takes them a long way as two-year-olds. Obviously, the barrier makes it hard, but it’s all up to Zac now. Hopefully, he can wield a bit of Zac magic.”
Lloyd is aiming for his first Golden Slipper victory, while Skyhook’s jockey, Kerrin McEvoy, is chasing his second win in the race after triumphing aboard Sepoy in 2011.