Setsuna confirms Gai’s Golden Slipper plan

A Melbourne Cup day win has clinched a Golden Slipper campaign for impressive filly Setsuna.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained two-year-old made it two wins from three starts, dominating Tuesday’s Group Three Ottawa Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day from the front.

Setsuna ($4.60), ridden by Stephen Baster, kicked strongly from the 300m in the straight-track sprint for two-year-old fillies to defeat Roobeena ($10) by 1-1/4 lengths with another debutante Aristocratic Miss ($14) another length away third.

Setsuna was beaten in a close finish to the Gimcrack Stakes in Sydney on debut before winning the Inglis Banner at Moonee Valley at her second start.

“I think she’s proven herself well and truly this preparation and she’s done enough so we’ll look after her now,” Bott said.

“We’ll give her a good spell in the paddock and we’ll bring her back for a 2018 Golden Slipper campaign.

“That should give her some prize money now to help qualify her into the Slipper.”

Her prize money won at Moonee Valley in the race restricted to Inglis graduates doesn’t count towards the Golden Slipper in March.

“I guess that was part of the reason why we wanted to come here today as well,” Bott said.

“But she came out of that Moonee Valley race in such good order and she’s an incredibly tough filly.

“She was very professional today so she’s starting to put it all together.

“She’s showed that natural speed and gave a good kick. She gave nothing else a chance to get into the race.”