Shaun Dwyer woke up on Saturday morning unaware he needed a new jockey for star filly Villa Verde.
A quick glance at his mobile phone soon changed that.
The unbeaten Villa Verde has made a big impression as evidenced by the number of messages Dwyer received from some of the biggest name jockeys in the country chasing the ride in Saturday’s Reisling Stakes.
Hugh Bowman has been booked as the one-race replacement for Michael Rodd, suspended for an incident in Friday night’s Alister Clark Stakes.
Villa Verde puts her reputation on the line at Rosehill in the Group Two Reisling (1200m), her only autumn lead-up to the $3.5 million Golden Slipper at Rosehill on April 6.
She is on the second line of betting for the Golden Slipper and takes on reigning favourite Overreach.
Dwyer said the filly was bigger and stronger than in the spring when she won two Listed races including the Debutants Stakes in which Overreach was second.
Two exhibition gallops at Bendigo and a pleasing 1000m jump-out last week have the youngster ready to stamp her Golden Slipper credentials.
“She’s a lot more forward than I anticipated,” Dwyer said.
“I’m pretty happy with her.”
Dwyer said he was trying not to get too excited about the prospects of Villa Verde but admitted he’d love to win the Golden Slipper.
“She was a great spring horse and I suppose the times she ran are probably a significant factor,” Dwyer said.
“All the experts say she is pretty good.”
A 14-meeting suspension will keep Rodd out of the Reisling but he will be back for the Golden Slipper and will no doubt be watching intently on Saturday.
He is confident the filly is the right sort of horse for the typical high-pressure, fast-run Golden Slipper.
“She’s just so professional,” Rodd said.
“Golden Slippers are usually farcically-run and she’ll handle the raceday pressure of a Slipper. She’s big enough to cop a bump, which usually happens in a Slipper, and she can sit anywhere. She’s definitely got the right attributes.”
The Reisling Stakes for fillies and the Todman Stakes for colts and geldings are traditionally key lead-up races for the Golden Slipper two weeks later.
