Gai’s Golden Boy

If anyone knows how to train a winner of the G1 Golden Slipper, it’s Gai Waterhouse. The Hall of Famer has done it five times already, after all, and in Saturday’s edition of the world’s richest juvenile race she has three live chances to tie her late father T J Smith’s record six wins. That trio is headed by the unbeaten ‘TDN Rising Star’ Vancouver (Medaglia d’Oro), who comes in off a dominating score in the G2 Todman S. two weeks ago. Vancouver, the race favorite, was dealt a blow at Tuesday’s barrier draw when landing in gate 18 of 19–he will actually exit from gate 15 should the three also eligibles fail to draw in–but Waterhouse remained confident in her charge’s chances. 
“He’ll win, and the most important thing is he’ll be better odds,” Waterhouse told Racenet.com.au. “I never worry about barriers because you can’t do anything about them.” 
Vancouver gets the services of jockey Tommy Berry, who won his first Golden Slipper aboard the Waterhouse-trained Overreach (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) two years ago. 
To back up her chances, Waterhouse will also saddle the fillies English (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus})–winner of the G2 Reisling S., the fillies’ equivalent of the Todman, two weeks ago–and Speak Fondly (Aus) (Northern Meteor {Aus}), who backs up seven days after stamping herself a Slipper contender with a win in the G2 Magic Night S. over this track and trip. 
Much has been made about the strength of the Godolphin juvenile contingent this season, and trainer John O’Shea sends four postward in search of his first Slipper score. Exosphere (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}) leads that group in the betting off an eye-catching score in the 1200 meter G2 Skyline S. at Warwick Farm Feb. 28, but also intriguing is the unbeaten Haptic (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), who won the Listed Lonhro Plate going away on Valentine’s Day. ‘TDN Rising Star’ Ottoman (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) disappointed when fourth in the G2 Silver Slipper S. won by Headwater (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) Feb. 21, but ran a much more credible second in the Reisling on the same card that Headwater disappointed when third behind Vancouver in the Todman. O’Shea’s teamed fared overall better than the Waterhouse team at the draw, and O’Shea told Racenet, “I think the market has got it right in regards to Exosphere. He would be my top pick going into the race. He’s untapped. I didn’t want to draw soft and he’ll come into eight if the emergencies don’t get a run–that’s ideal.” 
Just four winners of the Golden Slipper since 1983 have contested their final prep race outside New South Wales, but nonetheless Melbourne shipper Ready For Victory (More Than Ready) stakes strong claims for Eliza Park International. The bay will make just his second start in the Slipper, his first coming when he charged down the Flemington straight to win well two weeks ago. Reemah (Aus) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}) is based at Randwick with David Hayes and Tom Dabernig but has done all her running in Victoria, most recently finishing second in the G1 Blue Diamond S. Feb. 28.