Punters expect She Will Reign to cement her $5 Golden Slipper favouritism with victory in a vital lead-up race at Rosehill.
The Gary Portelli-trained filly is at $1.60 for Saturday’s Silver Slipper Stakes, a race she needs to perform in to boost her prize money to get into the field for next month’s $3.5 million Golden Slipper.
Khan and Veranillo are seen as the only serious challengers at $4.60 and $6 respectively in the Silver Slipper.
Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, Khan won the Breeders’ Plate in October while Godolphin colt Veranillo is a last-start winner of the Lonhro Plate.
Godolphin trainer John O’Shea says the Silver Slipper will give the stable an idea of where Veranillo is in the pecking order.
“He’s up in class, so we’ll know where we stand with him after Saturday,” O’Shea said.
“There’s a couple of smart ones in the race, but at this stage we’ll be going on to the Golden Slipper 2017.
“He’s a very nice colt who had shown ability in his first prep and raced up to it with a good, tough win.”
