Saturday week’s 2018 Golden Slipper is set to be a beauty with Grahame Begg’s Ladbrokes Blue Diamond winner Written By saluting in his Pago Pago Stakes lead-up before taking on the gun filly Sunlight.

Returning Blue Diamond champ Written By had to dig deep to salute for the punters in the 2018 Pago Pago Stakes results on way to the Golden Slipper. Photo: Steve Hart.

Sunlight cemented her favouritism for the Group 1 $3.5 million Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) with an all-the-way Magic Night Stakes win on Coolmore Classic Day.

One race later and it was the same result by another odds-on two-year-old with the still undefeated Written Tycoon colt Written By ($1.70) leading from go to whoa in the Group 3 $175,000 Pago Pago Stakes (1200m).

Racing for the first time since his Group 1 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) success by two and a half lengths at Caulfield in late February, Written By had his first official Sydney start in the Pago Pago Stakes.

It followed on from a Monday gallop and was a late inclusion to his autumn program by Begg after he opted not to run the horse in a reschedule Sydney trial on a less-than-ideal track on Thursday.

Written By was ridden fresh by his regular rider Jordan Childs who made it four wins from as many starts aboard the proven Group 1 performer who had to fight off a late challenge by the progressive Brad Widdup-trained roughie Sandbar ($19) to salute at Rosehill.

“He’s a real athlete of a horse,” Childs said post-win.

“He jumps out of the barriers well and puts himself into the race.”

As Sunlight did in the fillies’ equivalent, Written By went a little keen early with Childs trying to keep him restrained in front.

The top fancy held the lead into the straight, but Sandbar was right beside him and the two raced stride for stride over the closing stages in a brilliant battle to the line.

Coming off a close sixth to Santos in the Group 2 Skyline Stakes (1200m) from March 3, Snitzel colt Sandbar really gave it to Written By who just kept on fighting.

In a great race, the Blue Diamond winner prevailed after being really stretched by the untapped Sandbar, the top two holding a notable margin over the third placegetter Spin ($5.50) from the Peter & Paul Snowden stable.

“He struggled a little big going the opposite way today, but that should put him in good standing for next week,” Childs added.

“He’s still learning. He’s got a lot of ability there.

“It’s good to see him doing the right things.

“It think today will really bring him on.”

It was probably a tougher-than-anticipated run for Written By after he and Sandbar went hard out in the final Golden Slipper lead-up race, the winner saluting in a fraction quicker time than Sunlight in the Magic Night.

“He’s all quality this little bloke,” winning trainer Begg said.

“He never knows how to sit down.

“He’s to a little bit of improvement in him…certainly a little bit more to come for next week.

“The second horse gave him a good race…they’ve run good time.”

Written By now presents as a livewire danger to Sunlight in the big one, only having to reproduce a similar effort in seven days’ time.

“The horse is a very, very talented horse,” Begg said.

“At lease he can have a very easy week the next seven days…just cool his heels a bit.”

Following the Pago Pago Stakes results Written By firmed in from $7.50 in early Golden Slipper betting at Ladbrokes.com.au to the $5 second favourite behind Sunlight ($3.60).

2018 Pago Pago Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Rosehill Race 4 – 17/03/2018