Gai Waterhouse’s undefeated Golden Slipper hope Vancouver has been described by jockey Tommy Berry as a “classy colt” as he prepares to take on Headwater in Saturday’s Todman Stakes 2015.
Vancouver (pictured) is second pick to beat Golden Slipper favourite Headwater in the 2015 Todman Stakes at Randwick this weekend. Photo: Steve Hart.
The $300,000 Group 2 UNSW Todman Stakes (1200m) is the second race on the Randwick Guineas Day program in Sydney on Saturday following the fillies’ edition opening the card, the $300,000 Group 2 Reisling Stakes (1200m).
Both races are official lead-ups for juvenile’s heading into the world’s richest race for their age group, the $3.5 million Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 21.
Futures Golden Slipper odds at Ladbrokes.com.au are currently lead by Headwater ($4.20), Team Hawkes shooting for their second straight win in the classic following the success of Mossfun last Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.
Exceed And Excel colt Headwater has won both of his career starts to date, most recently the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on February 21.
The Golden Slipper favourite shoots for a third win from as many starts in the Todman Stakes, also known as the Todman Slipper Trial, which drew only five colts and geldings at final declaration stage on Wednesday.
Headwater, a Blake Shinn ride, is drawn in the outside barrier and is the odds-on favourite at a firming $1.80 to win the Todman this weekend.
Occupying the second line of Todman Stakes betting at $3.30 is then Berry’s mount Vancouver who, like the favourite, has also won both of his previous career starts.
The Medaglia D’Oro colt debuted at Randwick last October and won the Listed NSW Thoroughbred Breeders’ Plate (1000m) by one and a quarter lengths.
He then returned at Rosehill in late January with Berry guiding him to a three-quarter length victory over Outreach in the Group 3 Canonbury Stakes (1100m).
A winning trial over 734m since then at Randwick has the youngster switched on and ready to go in the Todman where he gets a chance to secure Golden Slipper favouritism, Vancouver currently the $6 third favourite for the Group 1 later this month.
“He is just a classy colt,” Berry told the Sydney Morning Herald of Vancouver, drawn in barrier three for Saturday.
“Hawkesy’s [Headwater] is the one to beat but we have drawn the gate to dictate the race.”
To get behind your favourite two-year-olds in the Slipper trials this weekend as well as check out the juicy futures Golden Slipper odds, visit Ladbrokes.com.au who are offering all the autumn’s hottest markets!
