Two fillies head betting for the Golden Slipper but trainer David Hayes is confident his colt Fast `N’ Rocking can emerge as a serious contender after Saturday’s Todman Stakes.
Hayes believes the Blue Diamond runner-up is peaking at the right time to be a major player in the Golden Slipper and likened Fast `N’ Rocking to a former Lindsay Park representative who came agonisingly close to winning the world’s richest race for two-year-olds.
“I’m very confident,” Hayes said.
“He’s flying on that leg and is just getting better and better.
“He reminds me of a young Von Costa (De Hero) who was beaten an inch in the Golden Slipper.”
Von Costa De Hero was a half-head second to Sebring in the 2008 Golden Slipper.
Fast `N’ Rocking will wear blinkers for the first time in the Group Two Todman Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill.
He will be partnered by Steven Arnold who was aboard in the Blue Diamond Stakes when the colt beat all but flying Adelaide filly Miracles Of Life.
Arnold said it would be great to have a live chance in the Golden Slipper.
“He’s a really nice horse and is coming off a really good run in the Diamond,” Arnold said.
“I’d suspect at some stage he’s going to want further but he’s had a freshen up and should be sharp enough for Saturday’s race.”
Fast `N’ Rocking is at $51 in Golden Slipper betting with TAB fixed odds and is at $9 for the Todman.
Overreach and Villa Verde, who will do battle in Saturday’s Reisling Stakes for fillies, are the two Golden Slipper favourites at $3.80 and $7 respectively.
