News

Two-year-olds gear up for Slipper

7th Mar 2011

Racing And Sports - Monday, 7 March 2011

A gelding operation has made a marked difference to two-year-old Hot Snitzel, renewing trainer Gerald Ryan's Golden Slipper aspirations.

Hot Snitzel has been entered for Saturday's Skyline Stakes at Warwick Farm while stablemate Saramenha is among nominations for the fillies event, the Sweet Embrace Stakes.

The winners of both races gain automatic berths in the $3.5 million Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on April 2.

Ryan said a final decision on whether his charges raced on Saturday or were saved for the following week would be made after trackwork on Tuesday.

"I'll make up my mind after trackwork in the morning," Ryan said.

"At this stage Saramenha will run but may go to the Reisling the following week.

"Hot Snitzel also has the option of the Todman on Saturday week.

"He is terrific, he is a different horse since he's been gelded.

"There's has been a huge change in him in every way and he's now a nice horse to have around the stable."

Hot Snitzel created a big impression with his debut win on December 11 and then left his mark for different reasons with an erratic run as favourite in the Inglis Nursery the following week.

That performance prompted the decision to geld him.

Saramenha won two races in the spring and was spelled after her second to Anise on November 20.

"She had about six weeks out and it did her good," Ryan said.

"I'm very happy with both of them."

Both horses are by Snitzel who Ryan trained to win the 2006 Oakleigh Plate.

Four-time Slipper winner Clarry Conners has four fillies - Bright Heart, Gunhilda, Seven Fly Seven and Suzanne - entered in the Sweet Embrace and Bench Star and Irish Times in the Skyline.

There were 17 fillies entered on Monday for the Sweet Embrace including Slipper second favourite Karuta Queen and Defiant Dame who missed racing on Saturday due to a high temperature.

"She seems fine today," trainer David Payne said.

"We have had blood tests taken but we won't get the results until late tonight."

Both Magic Millions winner Karuta Queen and Defiant Dame will also be entered for Sunday's Black Opal Stakes at Canberra.

Hot Snitzel was one of 14 colts and geldings entered for the Skyline including Uate from the Kris Lees stable at Newcastle.

Named for Newcastle Knights winger Akuila Uate, the colt has raced twice for a win on his home track in February and victory last Wednesday at Randwick.

Blue Diamond winner Sepoy is the dominant Golden Slipper favourite but a decision on whether he races again before the feature has not been made.