Scarlet Rain
If her trainer is right, Scarlet Rain has the right credentials to challenge Capitalist in the Golden Slipper.
The filly scored her second win from as many starts when she ploughed through the Randwick mud to win the 2YO Plate (1000m) on Saturday.
Waterhouse has won the $3.5 million Slipper a record-equalling six times and Scarlet Rain is the first of her team guaranteed a start.
“She’s a gorgeous-looking filly with natural talent,” Waterhouse said.
“She is in the Slipper now and that’s where we’ll head with her.
“I’m not sure what we will do between now and then but we will find a stakes race for her and get her some black type.
“She has Slipper written all over her.”
Ridden by Tim Clark and starting favourite, Scarlet Rain ($2.90) led all the way to beat Twist Tops ($5) by 1-1/4 lengths with a neck to Prized Icon ($4.40).
Clark said Scarlet Rain was a typical product of the Waterhouse stable.
“She’s a typical Gai horse – jump, run, quicken, win,” he said.
“She’s easy to ride. She’s naturally fast and has two Saturday wins now.”
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Capitalist has been the long-time favourite for the Golden Slipper (1200m) on March 19, further cementing his position with his Magic Millions Classic win two weeks ago.
The three-year-old sprinters had first use of Saturday’s heavy track with the Kris Lees-trained Le Romain ($4.80) handling the ground best of the six to beat early leader Deploy ($4.60) by three-quarters of a length.
Favourite Top Score ($2.90) found the going tough and finished 3-1/2 lengths from the winner who surprised his trainer.
“I didn’t expect him to win over 1000 metres but the heavy track and the slow tempo suited him,” Lees said.
“I have no great plans for him but he has always shown ability and it was good to seem him handle the ground the way he did.”
