The road to the Golden Slipper begins at Randwick with Sydney’s first two-year-old races of the season.
Godolphin’s head trainer James Cummings has been taken by Hiemal and on the strength of his work and a winning trial the colt is favoured to win Saturday’s Listed Breeders’ Plate (1000m) for two-year-olds.
Hiemal clocked the slickest time in barrier trials at Canterbury earlier this month.
“The reason he could do that is because he does everything right. He’s very forward and ahead of the game,” Cummings said.
“I feel like he’s got what it takes to be right at the top of the tree in a race like this.”
Osorno also won his trial at Canterbury on September 18 but Cummings’ expectations were more measured.
“He doesn’t pick up the bridle quite as instantly as Hiemal, but he’s got a very good finish and a lovely, big action,” he said.
Chris Waller will have Performer in the race.
“He won his trial nicely. It’s just whether he’s as hardened as other horses that would have been put under enormous pressure to get to the Breeders,” Waller’s racing manager Charlie Duckworth said.
Witherspoon, a $500,000 Magic Millions yearling is the favourite for the Gimcrack Stakes for fillies despite the outside barrier.
She was also a trial winner at Canterbury Sales and is trained at Hawkesbury by Brad Widdup.
“She’s done everything right so far,” Widdup said.
No markets are open for the Golden Slipper 2018.
