Last year’s Golden Slipper Stakes winning trainers Peter & Paul Snowden could have two livewire chances for the Group 1 in a fortnight after Gunnison and Invader fought it out for the winning 2017 Todman Stakes quinella on Saturday.
Gunnison is into the 2017 Golden Slipper field for Team Snowden after his win in the Reisling Stakes. Photo: Steve Hart.
Running a fraction quicker than the fillies in the first – the Reisling Stakes won in an upset by Frolic over current Golden Slipper Stakes favourite She Will Reign – it was the colts’ and geldings’ turn in the $300,000 Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m).
The two smallest looking runners in the field were the toughest on the Heavy (9) Randwick track and in a photo Todman Stakes results, Team Snowden had the first two past the post.
The stable won last year’s Golden Slipper Stakes with Capitalist (2016) who came off a second in the Todman Stakes, while the last colt to complete the double Gunnison could now chase in at Rosehill on March 18 was Vancouver (2015).
Blake Shinn rode Capitalist to victory in the $3.5 million Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) last Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival and was aboard today’s Todman Stakes winner Gunnison.
Co-trainer Peter Snowden meanwhile also won the Golden Slipper in 2011 with Sepoy.
The big improver in the field, Not A Single Doubt gelding Gunnison came into the Group 2 off a Canberra win over 1000m on debut.
He was away well from the gates and led on the inside of Lightz in the early stages of the race, while the favourite Menari was settled wide midfield throughout.
It turned out to be a gutsy all-the-way win for the Golden Slipper Stakes ballot exemption from Gunnison who remained in the middle of the track once on the straight as Menari tried to charge home from out wide as Frolic did in the Reisling Stakes.
The Gerald Ryan-trained Menari was putting in good strides, banging into the Joao Moreira-ridden Invader at one stage in the closing part of the race, but it turned out to be a two-horse race in the end by the Snowden stablemates.
Last start winner at the track and distance, Snitzel colt Invader moved up to challenge the leader but Gunnison held on the inside for the win as John O’Shea’s consistent Silver Slipper Stakes runner-up Veranillo rounded out the placings a fair way back in third.
Head to Ladbrokes.com.au now for the updated Golden Slipper Stakes 2017 odds on this year’s Todman Stakes winner Gunnison.
2017 Todman Stakes Results & Finishing Order
Randwick Race 2 – 04/03/2017
| Place | # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Br. | Wgt. | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | GUNNISON | Peter & Paul Snowden | Blake Shinn | – | 4 | 55.5kg | $8 |
| 2 | 4 | INVADER | Peter & Paul Snowden | Joao Moreira | 0.1L | 5 | 55.5kg | $4.40 |
| 3 | 2 | VERANILLO | John O’Shea | Brenton Avdulla | 2.4L | 3 | 55.5kg | $5.50 |
| 4 | 8 | SHOWTIME | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Tommy Berry | 3.2L | 1 | 55.5kg | $14 |
| 5 | 6 | MENARI | Gerald Ryan | Tim Clark | 5.7L | 2 | 55.5kg | $2.30F |
| 6 | 9 | PERAST | Paul Perry | Glyn Schofield | 8.9L | 7 | 55.5kg | $10 |
| 7 | 11 | LIGHTZ | Jim & Greg Lee | Adam Hyeronimus | 12.2L | 6 | 55.5kg | $61 |
| 8 | 14 | SNITCH | Peter Robl | Ben Melham | 13.6L | 8 | 55.5kg | $81 |
| – | 13 | CUBA | John P Thompson | Tye Angland | – | 0 | – | – |
| – | 1 | CHAUFFEUR | Gerald Ryan | Joshua Parr | – | 0 | – | – |
| – | 5 | KHAN | Peter & Paul Snowden | Blake Shinn | – | 0 | – | – |
| – | 3 | JUKEBOX | Ciaron Maher | Luke Nolen | – | 0 | – | – |
| – | 10 | MURAAQEB | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Kerrin McEvoy | – | 0 | – | – |
| – | 7 | TREKKING | John O’Shea | Zac Purton | – | 0 | – | – |
