John Camilleri has taken a $150,000 gamble to put his filly Fireworks into the Golden Slipper but will have his bet covered if the favourite Vancouver wins.
Camilleri is the breeder of the Gai Waterhouse-trained Vancouver who fetched $185,000 at last year’s Magic Millions sale.
He kept Fireworks to race himself and paid the late entry fee to put her in Saturday’s $3.5 million race after she surprised him and trainer Gerald Ryan with her form.
By Medaglia D’Oro out of Danehill mare Skates, Vancouver is at $2.80 to maintain his unbeaten record in the Slipper.
Camilleri has no regrets about selling the colt and is just thrilled to watch $35 chance Fireworks run in the big race.
“It’s a privilege to be in the race with Fireworks,” Camilleri said.
“I left the decision to Gerald. We didn’t want to die wondering.
“I breed horses to sell but I do keep the fillies from good families.
“And of course I have a big interest in Vancouver.”
Vancouver fared badly in the barrier draw, coming up with the second from the outside in the field of 16 plus three emergencies.
The colt will come in to 15 if the emergencies don’t start while Fireworks, who drew 14, will come into 12 with two reserves drawn inside her.
But like punters, Waterhouse is not concerned by the alley.
“I never worry about barriers,” she said. “You can’t do anything about them.”
Vancouver is one of three runners for Waterhouse with English firming from $15 to $13 after drawing barrier six and Speak Fondly, who starts from 12, steady at $26.
Godolphin trainer John O’Shea will have four runners for Sheikh Mohammed including the second favourite Exosphere ($4.60).
All four drew good barriers with Exosphere in 10, Haptic (3) Furnaces (1) and Ottoman (8).
James McDonald rides Exosphere, Hugh Bowman is on Furnaces while visiting European jockeys James Doyle and William Buick are on Haptic and Ottoman respectively.
The Clarry Conners-trained Look To The Stars, the last horse to make the 16-horse field, will have to jump from the outside gate in an effort to give the trainer a fifth Slipper win.
WINNING RECORD OF GOLDEN SLIPPER BARRIER DRAWS:
1: 9 wins
2: 2
3: 6
4: 5
5: 4
6: 3
7: 3
8: 6
9: 3
10: 5
11: 4
12: 2
13: 0
14: 4
15: 1
16: 1
