With heavy rain falling in Sydney over the last couple of days, a wet Golden Slipper is looking more than likely for 2013. More showers are anticipated in the final lead up to the race, with a Slow 7 or worse track a very real possibility.
These conditions will make betting on this race a challenging affair, with many of the runners untested in these kind of conditions. The Golden Slipper is already a difficult race to pick, with two year olds having much less race experience to draw from than older horses. However, with a little homework there are some great opportunities on the table.
The wet track at Rosehill Gardens does see a number of runners heading into unknown territory however, with many horses completely untested on a slow track and some with only a couple of wet experiences. Gai Waterhouse-trained Overreach is the odds-on favourite for the Golden Slipper this year, with odds firming even more after drawing barrier one earlier in the week.
Overreach does have some history in the wet, after taking out the Widden Stakes in a convincing way by six lengths in February. The track was a Dead 5 for the Widden Stakes, with Overreach not having any experience on even slower turf.
There are some horses with the proven ability to handle wet conditions however, including another Waterhouse-trained runner, Sweet Idea. The filly won the Group 2 Silver Slipper last month on a Heavy 9 track, and is one of only a few horses with history in the wet. Third and fourth in the Silver Slipper, Charlie Boy and I’m All The Talk will also both be racing in the Golden Slipper.
Latecomer Ruud Awakening does not have any recent history in the wet, although the New Zealand filly did win on Dead 5 and Dead 6 tracks earlier in her career back in October.
While weather conditions on Golden Slipper Day itself will have a big effect on the final condition of the track, the wet conditions during the week will definitely change the complexion of this event.
