Colts fill the first three positions in Golden Slipper markets but Hugh Bowman doesn’t think it will be the same at the finish of Saturday’s showpiece at Rosehill.
Bowman rides Satin Shoes, a filly he believes is his best chance yet to win the $3.5 million Slipper (1200m).
Bowman believes Satin Shoes is his best chance yet to win the $3.5m dollar Golden Slipper - Photo by Steve Hart
The filly suffered her first defeat in four starts when she ran second to Elite Falls on a slow track in the Reisling Stakes but after giving her a good workout on Tuesday, Bowman is confident she can bounce back and give trainer Clarry Conners his fifth win in the race.
“Her work was outstanding,” Bowman said.
“She is a big horse and I did a bit more on her and she had a nice little blow afterwards.
“This is as good a ride as I’ve had in the Slipper and I think she can go really well.”
The closest Bowman has come to winning the big race was third on the Gai Waterhouse-trained Meurice four years ago.
Satin Shoes, who jumps from barrier two, was at $11 with TAB Sportsbet on Wednesday alongside Elite Falls with Sepoy steady at $3.20 ahead of Smart Missile at $4.60 and Foxwedge at $9.
Conners echoed Bowman’s confidence in Satin Shoes but was concerned after a thunder storm hit Sydney on Wednesday afternoon.
“She’s terrific, I couldn’t be happier,” he said.
“The only thing I’m scared of is the rain, I’m not scared of the other horses.
“My main opposition is the weather and I just hope it clears by Saturday.
“Everything else is in order, barrier two is ideal, we’ve got a great jockey, now it’s up to the man above.”
Even though he has four Slipper trophies, Conners said there was no secret to identifying a winner.
“All horses are individuals,” he said.
“You treat them all differently. Some come through early and it’s unexpected.
“It’s all just up to the individual horse and this year I’ve got an exceptional filly.”
Satin Shoes is owned by Dr Edmund Bateman who also races Foxwedge who is trained by John O’Shea.
Foxwedge ran third to Smart Missile and Sepoy in the Todman Stakes which was run earlier than the Reisling on a dead track on March 19.
The Anthony Cummings-trained Smart Missile has been the talk of the Slipper since he put in an outstanding track gallop on Tuesday morning.
He is unbeaten from two starts, both on dead surfaces.
Conners most recent win in the Slipper was with Belle Du Jour in 2000, Lee Freedman’s last was Merlene in 1996 while Bart Cummings has been waiting 32 years since Century Miss in 1979.
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