News

Hinchinbrook to tune up with extra hit-out for Slipper

22nd Mar 2010

Sydney Morning Herald - Chris Roots - Monday, 22 March 2010

MICHAEL TUBMAN'S fairytale filly Chance Bye had her final public gallop at Kembla Grange yesterday but rival trainer Gerald Ryan has decided to take a different route to the Golden Slipper with unbeaten colt Hinchinbrook.

The Fastnet Rock colt will run in Saturday's Pago Pago Stakes to top off its preparation at Rosehill, while Chance Bye will not leave Kembla.

''He pulled up so well [after winning the Skyline Stakes] I was in two minds whether to gallop the guts out of him or to let him have another run for the experience,'' Ryan said. ''He is very fit, so why not run in a group 2 on Saturday? It's his home track, it's not like he is getting on the float and travelling.''

Darren Beadman will ride Hinchinbrook in the Golden Slipper, while Ryan has booked Queenslander Stathi Katsidis to ride Hinchinbrook this weekend. Katsidis will ride favourite Military Rose in the Slipper. ''We have had a bit of luck together before and we had to get someone who wouldn't want the ride in the Slipper,'' Ryan said.

At Kembla, Tubman said Chance Bye was back on track for the Golden Slipper after a smart bit of work between races. The unbeaten filly worked solo yesterday and went one minute 4.41 seconds for 1000 metres, getting home in 35.52s for her final 600m with Kathy O'Hara keeping her under a tight rein until the 200m.

''I only gave her a squeeze at the 200 metres and she felt really good the last furlong,'' O'Hara said. ''I'm very happy with that and she will be spot-on come the Slipper day.''

Chance Bye looked a little scratchy in her action early in her work but it was a much better gallop than when she was beaten by Phenomenal Lass at Kembla last week.

''That [gallop] was a complete stuff-up and she made up for it just then,'' Tubman said. ''It is just the sort of work I would have wanted two weeks from the Slipper. She will swim the rest of the week and go three-quarters on Thursday before a final blow-out the Tuesday before the Slipper.''

Tubman has watched the two-year-olds' races with interest since Chance Bye's Silver Slipper win and believes she can match it with anything he has seen. He is happy to stay at home and produce her on the big day.

''They can go around and knock each other over every week and I'll be waiting for them in the Slipper,'' he said. ''I think we just need a bit of luck in the Slipper and a good barrier draw.''

John O'Shea said deposed Golden Slipper favourite Solar Charged had pulled up ''great'' after her third to Military Rose in the Reisling Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.

''We were mindful on Saturday that we want to take a sit in the Slipper and she got going a bit hard,'' O'Shea said. ''The boys went much harder and if she was in that race she would have lobbed one out, one back and relaxed.

''Provided we draw a barrier that is where I see her in the Golden Slipper, one out, one back, and you will see a different horse.''

Michael Rodd, who won on Military Rose and Masquerader on Saturday, will make the trip to Scone on Wednesday night to give his Golden Slipper ride, the Paul Messara-trained Beneteau, a barrier trial at Arrowfield's training centre on Thursday morning.

''I'm really looking forward to it,'' Rodd said. ''Paul said to forget about his last run and if you do that he has to be one of the main chances in the race on his wins and run in the Blue Diamond [when third to Star Witness].''

Georgette Silk heads the list of fillies trying to break into the Slipper field via the Magic Night Stakes on Saturday.

Grahame Begg is hoping Mafia Miss earns a Slipper berth while Darley will enter Celts, which was second to Elimbari at her only run, in January.

''She is still very immature and won't run in the Slipper even if she was to win,'' trainer Peter Snowden said.

''That first run really knocked her around. She is going to be a very nice filly but just needs time.''