Leading jockey Corey Brown was frustrated in his attempt to gain a release from a Golden Slipper outsider on Sunday in a bid to continue his association with impressive 11th hour lead-up winner Salade.
Brown tried without luck before he rode at the Challenge Stakes meeting at Warwick Farm to contact the connections of the Gerald Ryan-trained Hot Snitzel to put his case for a release.
“I haven’t been able to get in touch with them yet,” Brown said.
Hot Snitzel is a $51 chance for the $3.5 million race while Salade, who Brown rode to an impressive victory in the Pago Pago Stakes, firmed from $101 into $13.
Salade was sporting silks for the first time in the Pago Pago but he dominated the finish to once again confirm trainer Bart Cummings as the master when it comes to timing a run towards a major race.
And it seems not even the issue of trying to secure a jockey can test Cummings’ patience with his grandson James saying the Salade ride remains open until Brown is confirmed for one horse or the other.
Ryan is believed to have put Brenton Avdulla on standby to ride Hot Snitzel should Brown be given a release.
Brown was reportedly booked last week to ride Hot Snitzel, 24 hours before the dynamics of the race changed for the second time in seven days when Salade blitzed his opposition.
He said it was hard not to be impressed with the way Salade raced away over the last 200 metres.
“He surprised me with the way he put them away when he joined in.”
Hot Snitzel was gelded after an early season campaign and returned with a photo-finish second to Uate in the Skyline Stakes at Warwick Farm.
Chris Waller, meanwhile, confirmed Fast And Sexy will be a Golden Slipper starter – the Rosehill trainer’s first in the world’s richest juvenile race.
“It will be an honour to have a runner for the Inghams,” Waller said.
Bob Ingham shared in two Golden Slipper wins with his late brother Jack, Sweet Embrace in 1967 and Guineas 30 years later.
Peter Snowden is expected to give Helmet another chance to confirm a Golden Slipper berth with a Warwick Farm barrier trial on Monday morning.
Helmet was withdrawn from a Randwick trial on Friday when he became agitated as a another runner played up in an adjoining stall.
Snowden’s Magic Night Stakes winner Altar is expected to back up in the Golden Slipper but a start for stablemate Aerobatics remains up in the air.
The Snowden-trained Sepoy remains favourite with his quote unchanged from $2.90, ahead of Smart Missile ($5.50), Foxwedge ($8) and Satin Shoes ($9).
AAP TURF
