TAB GOLDEN SLIPPER DAY SPARKLES

23 March, 2024

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott landed the TAB Golden Slipper after a sensational edition of the $5 million feature at Rosehill Gardens.

TAB Golden Slipper Day attracted a healthy crowd which lapped up the theme of ‘A Touch Of Gold’, with the five Group 1’s on the day all being very competitive affairs.

It was Waterhouse & Bott though which were the toast of the track after Lady Of Camelot was a slightly surprise winner of the TAB Golden Slipper, beating Coleman and highly-fancied stablemate, Storm Boy. It was Waterhouse’s eighth victory in the Golden Slipper and her second in partnership with Bott.

The pair had saluted earlier in the day with Osmose (Tim Clark) in the Bisley Workwear Epona Stakes.

The other Group 1’s of the day were:

*Via Sistina turned heads at Rosehill Gardens, coming from the back to sweep past her rivals in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000 metres). The daughter of Fastnet Rock was ultra impressive in beating another import, Place Du Carrousel, with Buckaroo third just in front of Think It Over. TAB immediately reacted to the win by installing her a hot $2.30 favourite for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

*Veight (Damian Lane) gave trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy success at Rosehill Gardens in consecutive weeks. The three-year-old colt held off the fast-finishing Lady Laguna to capture the Group 1 The Agency George Ryder Stakes (1500 metres), with Militarize close up in third.

*Chris Waller enjoyed TAB Golden Slipper Day as much as anybody, with Riff Rocket giving him a Group 1 double in successive races. The youngster came with a big run from back in the field for Nash Rawiller to score in a tight finish in the Sky Racing Rosehill Guineas (2000 metres) over Ceolwulf and Cap Ferrat. This followed Via Sistina’s (James McDonald) win earlier in the Ranvet.

*Godolphin got their Group 1 of the day thanks to upset winner of the Kia Ora Stud Galaxy (1100 metres), Zapateo. Paying upwards of $30 on TAB Fixed Odds, Zapateo arrived in time to get over the top of Sunshine In Paris, with early leader Front Page gripping on to third in a thriller.

Some other highlights on TAB Golden Slipper Day included:

*Blake Shinn riding a winning treble thanks to his Golden Slipper triumph,  win aboard Brave Mead in the Irresistible Pools Darby Munro Stakes and Chain Of Lightning in the TAB Birthday Card Stakes

*Post Impressionist creating quite the impression when coming from the rear on the final bend in the Precise Air N E Manion Cup. The Tom Marquand-ridden and William Haggas-trained galloper was immediately installed by TAB as favourite for the Sydney Cup off the back of the win, firming from $8 into $3

Attention in the Sydney Autumn Carnival continues to focus on Rosehill Gardens next Saturday for Stakes Day, before action shifts to Royal Randwick for The Star Championships Day 1.