Gai Waterhouse will unleash two of her Golden Slipper big guns at Warwick Farm on Saturday as the march towards the $3.5 million showpiece heats up.
Early Slipper favourite Raceway will tackle the Listed Canonbury Stakes (1100m) while Magic Millions winner Driefontein runs in the Listed Widden Stakes (1100m).
Both youngsters are under Denise Martin’s Star Thoroughbreds banner and she is hoping for a big afternoon.
“Hopefully it’s a memorable day on Saturday,” Martin said.
Driefontein will race for the first time since winning the Magic Millions on protest from stablemate No Looking Back.
Martin said the filly had flourished since returning from the Gold Coast and regular rider Tommy Berry was thrilled with her.
“Tommy has ridden her fairly often in the last month and to say the least he is over the moon,” Martin said.
“He believes she has gone ahead since the Magic Millions.
“She has developed further, she has matured and she handled the trip wonderfully well.
“There are a couple of horses there on Saturday who have very decent form. The Gimcrack winner (Hussousa) looks very good.
“But from barrier one she (Driefontein) should be hard to catch.”
Martin has already syndicated a Slipper winner in Sebring and many of his owners have backed up with shares in Raceway.
Bred on the same cross, both Sebring and Raceway are by More Than Ready out of Flying Spur mares.
Interestingly, Sebring took out the Canonbury Stakes two runs before he won the 2008 Golden Slipper.
Raceway has started just once for an emphatic four-length win despite racing greenly and is odds-on for Saturday’s assignment.
“If he reproduces the same form on Saturday he will give them something to beat,” Martin said.
“He needs to win to be pretty close to securing a start in the Slipper but he may need another run as well to ensure he makes the Slipper field.”
Driefontein has no such worries with $138,000 of qualified money in the bank.
Martin said programming was left to Waterhouse but there was every chance the Widden could be Driefontein’s final Slipper lead-up.
“It’s a matter of whether or not, after Saturday, Gai is keen to give her another start before the Slipper or just a trial in between,” Martin said.
“She got it very right with Sebring, not racing him for six or seven weeks before the Slipper.”
Driefontein is the $1.80 Widden favourite with TAB Sportsbet and a $13 chance for the Slipper.
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