Sunlight remains the favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au despite the Rosehill track being rated a heavy 8 for the Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) today.
Sunlight, above, who has yet to race on a heavy track is the race morning favourite for the 2018 Golden Slipper at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
The Rosehill track was rated a heavy 8 this morning after receiving 39.5mm of rain during the last week and even though Sunlight has never raced on a rain affected track, bookies at Ladbrokes.com.au still have her on top of the market order at $4.80 just ahead of the Blue Diamond Stakes winner Written By at $5.50.
Sunlight has raced six times, all on good surfaces, for five wins, but trainer Tony McEvoy is hoping her win on a heavy track in an 800m Cranbourne trial back in September will be a positive pointer towards her chances today.
“It’s an unknown but good horses handle most things,” McEvoy said.
“She trialled on a Heavy 9 at Cranbourne, it was very heavy, and she handled herself well there but it was a trial.”
Sunlight was a brilliant winner of the $2m Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 13 and has since won twice at Rosehill in her two lead up runs into today’s Golden Slipper.
The Zoustar filly scored a hard fought win over Estijaabb in the Group 2 $250,000 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) and backed that up with a win in the Group 3 $175,000 Canadian Club Magic Night Stakes (1200m) last Saturday.
Rosehill Gardens track manager Shaun Patterson is confident the track will race fair throughout Golden Slipper Day even after posting the heavy 8 rating this morning.
“The track is a heavy 8 at the moment,” Patterson said.
“The track is in good condition, it is nice green and lush. A nice pad of grass right the way across the track and should hopefully race very well.”
“The conditions are not favourable for drying out. We are looking at a good day but not the type of weather that is going to help dry it out substantially.”
The Grahame Begg trainer Written By is undefeated from four race starts and has the benefit of winning on a heavy track when he scored on debut at Sandown in early December.
The Written Tycoon colt then went on to win the Group 1 $1.5m Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 24 and then wrapped up his Golden Slipper preparation with an all the way win in the Group 3 $175,000 Café Culture + Insitu Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill last Saturday.
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