Gai Waterhouse’s leading Golden Slipper contender Law will step out at Rosehill on Saturday in what could be his final start before the juvenile showpiece.
Undefeated in two visits to the races, Law will be one of two Tulloch Lodge runners in the Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m).
Law - Photo by Steve Hart
If Law doesn’t race again before the Golden Slipper after Saturday, the colt will figure in an unconventional but otherwise proven Waterhouse preparation into the $3.5 million race.
Sebring had a barrier trial to compensate for a seven-week break between races before winning the 2008 Golden Slipper and Waterhouse almost did it again last year with Sweet Idea.
Sweet Idea won the Silver Slipper and contested a Randwick barrier trial 15 days before her minor placing in the Golden Slipper.
Waterhouse hasn’t ruled out adopting a similar approach with Law who she says is no certainty to race again between Saturday and the Golden Slipper on April 5.
“I’m not sure yet. He might, he might not. We will just see,” Waterhouse said.
Waterhouse has won three of the past five Silver Slippers, notably with Pierro (2012) who like Law featured early in the season with a Breeders’ Plate victory.
The Randwick trainer can already see signs the spring two-year-old form will be relevant again.
“Law is just a very exciting two-year-old and he will win the Silver Slipper on Saturday,” Waterhouse said.
“You only have to look at the spring form. Law won the Breeders’ Plate and won first-up.”
Star filly Earthquake also made her debut in the spring and has since stamped herself as the benchmark juvenile with a Blue Dimaond Stakes victory.
In the absence of the injured Fighting Sun, Law has emerged as Waterhouse’s best chance of a third successive Golden Slipper and is third pick in the betting at $11.
Bookmakers have him second favourite on Saturday behind Magic Millions victor Unencumbered, another youngster with spring form.
Unencumbered has not raced since taking his record to five wins from six starts in the Gold Coast feature.
But in her typically bullish manner, Waterhouse regards Law’s stablemate Hampton Court as his biggest Silver Slipper danger.
Hampton Court was a well-beaten second on debut at Canterbury after he was trapped three-wide.
“He’s a gorgeous son of Redoute’s Choice and he’s the main danger to the stablemate,” Waterhouse said.
Waterhouse will also have a strong representation in the Group Two Hobartville Stakes (1400m) with Romantic Touch, the Australian Derby-bound Liberty’s Choice and consistent colt Woodbine.
