Zac Lloyd is heading into the Silver Slipper more confident about the prospects of Hidrix than he was ahead of the colt’s Canonbury Stakes debut.
Lloyd hadn’t been aboard the Extreme Choice youngster in any of his barrier trials prior to his first start and admitted the Chris Waller stable was conservative in their initial assessments given the horse hadn’t been put under pressure at home.
“No-one overwhelmed me with confidence before the race because he’s a very casual customer at trackwork,” Lloyd said.
“But he got a lovely run and that enabled him to sprint well, and he did win quite comfortably.
“Hopefully he has switched on mentally from that and can race well again on Saturday.
“He couldn’t have been more impressive.”
Vaulted to equal favouritism for the Golden Slipper following his Canonbury Stakes (1100m) performance, Hidrix is on the second line of betting for Saturday’s Silver Slipper (1100m) at Rosehill as a $4.40 chance.
Tulloch Lodge filly Shiki and Canonbury Stakes runner-up Confederation head markets at $4, champion jockey James McDonald staying with the latter after partnering the colt on debut when he stuck to his task despite doing plenty wrong.
The Michael Freedman-trained Incognito started an odds-on favourite in the Canonbury Stakes but was found to have displaced his palette in the run after finishing fifth.
Freedman has since taken measures to prevent the issue recurring and the Breeders’ Plate winner will have a tongue control and lugging bit fitted on Saturday.
