Juvenile Dame Giselle has all but booked her spot in the Golden Slipper with an explosive performance in the $1 million Golden Gift at Rosehill under comeback jockey Andrew Adkins.
One of four Golden Gift runners for Peter and Paul Snowden, Dame Giselle ($13) turned the stables on Kirkham Plate conqueror See You Soon ($7), relishing a solid tempo to sprint quickly past the leaders and score by 3-3/4 lengths.
Stablemate Blaze A Trail ($4.40) was game in defeat at his first start, another short head away.
Co-trainer Peter Snowden said Dame Giselle had lived up to expectations with Saturday’s Rosehill victory and her race experience was key.
“You can’t beat race experience and that’s what she got the other day,” Snowden said.
“From the very first time she showed something and she has always had that good demeanour, that’s what I love about two-year-olds.
“She is athletic, she’s a great mover.
“I thought she was a bit stiff not to get there first up so it was good to get this result today.”
In winning, Dame Giselle banked $580,000, qualifying her for a Golden Slipper start and taking the pressure off having to earn her way into the race in the autumn.
While Adkins has a Group One Coolmore Classic win courtesy of Daysee Doom in 2018, Saturday’s victory was his richest.
It also capped a courageous comeback from a nasty fall during the Sydney autumn carnival when he broke multiple bones and spent months on the sidelines recuperating.
“It has been a long road back,” Adkins said.
“I’ve been working as hard as I can. At trackwork, if they want one more done I’ll always put my hand up to do that extra one.
“You get down in the dumps when you out for as long as I was but the love of winning is what drives you.”
Adkins said the addition of winkers made the difference to Dame Giselle and helped her focus.
See You Soon’s trainer Jean Dubois was happy with her fast-finishing effort after drawing wide.
The filly has banked enough from two starts to also be put safely on a 2020 Golden Slipper path.
“She’s got $240,000 now, she should be in,” Dubois said.
“We will give her a spell and one run before the Slipper will be enough.”
Debut winner Tanker started a $3 favourite and finished a sound fifth.
