Trainer Mick Price enjoyed vastly reversed fortunes at Tuesday's barrier draw for the A$3.5 million G1 Golden Slipper from what he had experienced two weeks ago prior to the G1 Blue Diamond S., when his star juveniles Extreme Choice (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) and Flying Artie (Aus) (Artie Schiller) landed gates 13 and 17, respectively. Not that that stopped them from posting the quinella in the million-dollar contest. Price, however, can sleep much easier in the final days leading up to Saturday's Golden Slipper after the colts drew barriers seven and five, respectively.
Flying Artie shortened into a firm 5-1 second choice behind the 2-1 Extreme Choice after the draw, and Price told Racing.com Flying Artie's favourable position could allow for a positive change in tactics following wide barriers his last two starts.
“The only reason we have had to half strangle him [back] was because of bad gates–16 out of 16 and 15 out of 15 at Caulfield,” Price told the site. “I don't think there is a lot between him and Extreme Choice; probably don't think there is as much as what the market would suggest. Extreme Choice is a great colt, they both have good gates, hopefully they can hit the line properly and we will see what happens.”
Extreme Choice and Flying Artie had their final pre-Slipper work over the Rosehill course Tuesday under their respective race-day riders Craig Newitt and Damien Oliver.
“We were out a little wide on the track and [Flying Artie] got a little lost coming around the bend,” Oliver told Racing.com. “It was good work but Extreme Choice was a little sharper; that is just the type of horse he is.”
Trainer Gai Waterhouse's 9-1 third choice, the Mar. 5 G2 Todman S. winner Kiss and Make Up (Aus) (More Than Ready), enjoyed good fortune at the draw as well, landing in gate nine. Waterhouse will also send out Scarlet Rain (Aus) (Manhattan Rain {Aus}) from barrier 16, the same gate that produced her 2015 Slipper winner Vancouver (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro). That one will be partnered by Vancouver's regular rider Tommy Berry.
Former Slipper favourite and 'TDN Rising Star' Capitalist (Aus) (Written Tycoon {Aus}) will benefit from a low draw in gate two, while his stablemate Defcon (Aus) (Choisir {Aus}) was less lucky landing in barrier 14. Godolphin, which sends out three with trainer John O'Shea, did not get the luck of the draw, landing in gate 12 with Telperion (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}); 15 with Caliope (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) and the extreme outside 17 with co-fourth choice Astern (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro).
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