Chris Waller will send hardened warriors Shoot Out and Danleigh on a difficult mission to topple Pierro in Saturday’s George Ryder Stakes.
Danleigh won the Group One race three years ago and showed with his recent third to Shoot Out in the Chipping Norton Stakes he still retained his zest for racing at nine years of age.
Shoot Out - Photo by Steve Hart
But against the star three-year-old from the Gai Waterhouse stable, things will be tough.
Pierro maintained his unbeaten record in Sydney when he beat his Gai Waterhouse-trained stablemate More Joyous in the Group One Canterbury Stakes prompting jockey Jim Cassidy to declare he was the best horse he had ridden in his illustrious career.
Nash Rawiller, who rode More Joyous in the Canterbury Stakes, will be back on Pierro with his stablemate to tackle the Queen Of The Turf.
Fellow three-year-old Rebel Dane, who ran Pierro to a short head in the Hobartville Stakes, will also take on the older brigade in the weight-for-age race over 1500 metres, one of four Group One races on the Golden Slipper undercard.
Shoot Out won the Australian Derby the same year Danleigh took out the George Ryder Stakes.
The stablemates haven’t raced since the Chipping Norton on March 6 but were given a barrier trial last week to ready them for the George Ryder assignment.
“I’m pleased with them and they both trialled as I hoped,” Waller said.
“It will be tough but they have shown what they can do.”
Waller is likely to have three runners in the $2.25 million BMW (2400m) – Kelinni, Gatewood and Foreteller, winner of the Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at his most recent start.
The BMW will be the first time Foreteller has stepped out beyond 2000 metres but Waller believes he deserves a chance after running down three-year-old Fiveandahalfstar in the Ranvet.
“On that performance he should be given his chance,” he said.
Fiveandahalfstar, who missed Saturday’s Rosehill Guineas in favour of the BMW, is the $3.30 favourite for the BMW ahead of the declaration of the final field on Tuesday.
Foreteller is the $7 second elect with Ranvet third Maluckyday at $8.
