Godolphin’s Golden Slipper stocks have risen with the royal blue to the fore in the two qualifying races at Rosehill.
Souchez won Saturday’s Pago Pago Stakes with Calliope making amends for her late scratching a week ago by winning the Magic Night Stakes.
Sheikh Mohammed’s leading hope, Astern, was an impressive barrier trial winner during the week after he missed last Saturday’s Todman Stakes with a temperature.
Souchez
Godolphin Australia managing director Henry Plumptre said it was a relief to see Calliope win.
“She is a very good filly so it was a relief to see her win today,” Plumptre said.
“I’m not sure if the colt (Souchez) will run.
“We’ll go home and talk about it and the final decision will be up to the boss (Sheikh Mohammed).”
Godolphin’s other likely runners are Telperion and Tessera.”
Calliope put her foot over the partition in the stall last week and missed the start in Saturday’s Magic Night named in honour of trainer Bede Murray who died earlier this week.
But the $3 favourite rounded up her opposition in the straight and held off Omei Sword ($5.50) by a half neck.
Souchez, the $2.70 favourite, raced on the pace to beat Chimboraa ($71) by a short neck.
Calliope tightened from $26 to $15 for the $3.5 million Golden Slipper next Saturday while Souchez remained at $26 with the TAB.
The Gai Waterhouse-trained Thyme For Roses is also quoted at $26 following her win in the Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Flemington.
Astern is on the fourth line of betting at $11 behind Extreme Choice ($2.80), Flying Artie ($6) and Kiss And Make Up ($8).
Telperion is at $26 and Tessera is a $51 chance.
James McDonald, who rode both two-year-old winners on Saturday, sticks with Astern in the Slipper.
