News

Slipper Swimmers

30th Mar 2010

*Breednet - Tara Madgwick - Wednesday, 31 March 2010

With rain predicted for the rest of this week, a wet track for Slipper day seems a formality, so a Slipper runner with good wet credentials is a must.

More Than Ready (USA) has sired the past two Golden Slipper winners in Phelan Ready and Sebring, both youngsters earning their success on a track rated heavy, so his two entries this year – Brightexpectations and More Strawberries - are the obvious candidates, but what of the rest?

1/ Brightexpectations (pictured) (More Than Ready (USA) x Miss Brightman, by Unbridled’s Song (USA)

Yet to race on anything worse than dead and had genuine excuses for his two unplaced runs on that surface. Sire is renowned for his mudlarks and dam-sire Unbridled’s Song, also had his share of ‘mudders’ including popular stayer Grey Song, a swimmer of the highest order.

2/ Hinchinbrook (Fastnet Rock x Snippets’ Lass, by Snippets)

Sire preferred firm footing and while this bloke has won on a slow track, you can’t help but think he might be better on the dry. That said his half-brother Snitzel won his Group One Oakleigh Plate on a heavy track, so no real surprise to see him swim if required.

3/ Decision Time (Foreplay x Daunting Thought, by Just Awesome)

Four of five starts so far on dead ground which he obviously loves. Sire was untried on wet ground and dam won once on slow going.

4/ Beneteau (Redoute’s Choice x Slice of Paradise, by Encosta de Lago)

Won easily on dead ground at first start, but there is nothing pedigree wise to suggest anything worse will enhance his chances.

5/ Carved in Stone (Rock of Gibraltar (IRE) x Written by Xaar, by Xaar (GB)

Most inexperienced runner with just one start, a third on a dead track. Dam won four races, one of them on a heavy track.

6/ Military Rose (pictured) (General Nediym x Bella Maddelena, by Flying Spur)

Five from five and was ridden back at her only run in slow conditions and flew home to win. Sire’s progeny are usually versatile when it comes to wet, so a bit of rain is no obvious obstacle.

*7/ Chance Bye (Snitzel x Rouge Femme, by Red Ransom (USA)

Unbeaten filly,who won easily on a dead track at debut. Her sire Snitzel, won his Group One on a heavy track and there is no reason to doubt her wet track potential on pedigree.

8/ Crystal Lily (Stratum x Crystal Snip, by Snippets)

Has handled dead ground well as did her sire, who won the Slipper in 2005 on a dead surface. Dam was untried on wet, although dam sire Snippets is usually a positive in wet track consideration.

9/ Shaaheq (Redoute’s Choice x Damaschino, by Last Tycoon (IRE)

Five runs, four of them on dead ground which she handles well. Sire’s progeny have no real love of the mud, although are generally professional enough to cope with wet if good enough to win. Dam Damaschino, a high class racemare, was untried on slow and heavy and failed six times on dead tracks, wet track duffer?

10/ Solar Charged (pictured)(Charge Forward x Soul Singer, by Danehill (USA)

Most impressive performance to date was on a slow track, so she obviously will be suited by more rain. Her sire Charge Forward won his Group One AJC The Galaxy on a slow track and had the second place-getter on the heavy in this race last year with Headway.

11/ Lohan (Choisir x Inclination, by Pauillac)

Winner on the slow in easier grade.

12/ Georgette Silk (Flying Spur x Apparel, by Barathea(IRE)

Already a stakes-winner on slow ground, but hard to think a heavy track would help further.

13/ Obsequious (Lonhro x Sycophant, by Commands)

Has handled dead track comfortably and both her sire Lonhro and dam sire Commands have good enough wet track stats to be optimistic of her chances in worse conditions.

14/ Elimbari (Fastnet Rock x Shalt Not, by Shalford (IRE)

Has won on dead and placed on slow and she is a half-sister to freakish filly Amelia’s Dream, who should have won this race in 2008 if she had not broken down. Amelia’s Dream did win by nine lengths on a heavy track when making her debut …… but Elimbari is no Amelia’s Dream.

15/ More Strawberries (More Than Ready (USA) x Milva (USA, by Strawberry Road)

Maiden with two seconds at only runs, one of them on dead ground. Sire More Than Ready (USA) is well proven with his wet trackers and dam sire Strawberry Road was a legendary ‘mudder’, think AJC Derby cakewalk in 1983! That said, the good mud credentials did not help More Strawberries half-brother All American, who got bogged when fifth beaten three lengths behind Sebring two years ago