The Golden Slipper picture clarified further on Saturday with key preps at Randwick and Eagle Farm. Houtzen (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) kept her unbeaten record intact and was promoted to favouritism for the Mar. 19 Slipper with a facile four-length score in a 1000 metre Eagle Farm handicap. The bay filly notched a pair of wins before taking the Magic Millions 2YO Classic on Jan. 14, and was making her fourth start on Saturday for trainer Toby Edmonds while carrying 63 kilos. Winning rider Jeff Lloyd said, “It was great the way she won and Toby [Edmonds] did a great job to choose this race rather than run in Sydney.”
Across the country in Sydney, Inglis Classic winner Frolic (Aus) (Husson) overturned favoured She Will Reign (Aus) (Manhattan Rain {Aus}) to take the G2 Reisling S. under Tommy Berry. Traveling at the back of the pack early, Frolic was given an enterprising ride by Berry, who opted for the stands' side of the heavy track, and the pair ran down She Will Reign in the final 100 metres to win by 2.3 lengths. Frolic is trained by Michael Freedman for the Kelly family's Newhaven Park.
The following race, the G2 Todman S., delivered another winner for the colts' syndicate run by agent James Harron when Gunnison (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) bested his Peter and Paul Snowden-trained stablemate Invader (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) by a nose. Although Gunnison races for the colts' syndicate he is in fact a gelding. While he earning potential is limited to the racetrack, a win in the A$3.5-million G1 Golden Slipper would justify his A$850,000 yearling pricetag.
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