Elite Falls caused the second upset of the day in the Golden Slipper lead-ups, getting the better of Satin Shoes to throw open the $3.5 million race in two weeks.
Elite Falls ($2.80) came from back in the field in Saturday’s 1200m Group Two for fillies at Rosehill and swept past Satin Shoes ($2 fav) in the wet conditions to win by 1-1/4 lengths with Fast And Sexy ($21) another 2-1/4 lengths away third.
It was Satin Shoes’ first defeat in four starts and followed on from Blue Diamond winner Sepoy going down to Smart Missile in the Todman Stakes (1200m) 40 minutes earlier.
Elite Falls’ trainer John O’Shea was happy to see the rain and said the filly had surprised him with her ascension to a Golden Slipper contender.
“To be honest, I brought her in early in the year because I didn’t quite think she was up to Slipper standard,” O’Shea said.
“I was hoping to win the Widden Stakes with her but she has proven that she is definitely up to it and she’s going well.”
Elite Falls was ridden by Jim Cassidy who sat back in fifth place in the field of six before moving ominously into the race on the outside from the top of the straight and getting the better of Satin Shoes in the final 200m.
Hugh Bowman, rider of Satin Shoes, felt his mount would relish the conditions but said it wasn’t the case and took her brilliance away.
“When I let her go she ran into the bridle like she was going to put two lengths on them but by the time I gave her her head Jimmy had come up on the outside and she couldn’t go with her,” Bowman said.
“She kept trying though. If it’s a good track on Slipper day I’ll be very, very confident.”
Trainer Clarry Conners said he was disappointed to be beaten but said Satin Shoes needed a good hitout and still had improvement in her.
AAP TURF
