Dublin Down is into Saturday week’s 2024 Golden Slipper field after a gutsy performance to take out the final ballot exemption race – the Group 2 $300,000 Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) – at Rosehill.
2024 Pago Pago Stakes winner Dublin Down is into Saturday week’s $4.92 million Golden Slipper field. Photo: Steve Hart.
The Exceedance colt was well placed by Tony & Calvin McEvoy heading up to Sydney after running 12th when 3.6 lengths beaten fresh in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield last month.
Second-up he was fitter for his Blue Diamond performance and relished a drop in grade for his first run outside of Melbourne.
Dublin Down ($20) had to dig deep and do it from both ends with a big on speed performance leading nearly all the way with Tim Clark in the saddle and asking the youngster for plenty.
“That was very impressive,” co-trainer Calvin McEvoy told the media post-victory.
“We know he’s a really good colt, he’s a Group-winning colt.
“But the way Tim (Clark) rode him, he rode him positive, blinkers on first time.
“We didn’t really think he’d have the speed to do that but he took control of the race.
“They rolled along at a good tempo, he was extremely strong so it was very exciting.”
The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Anode ($8.50) from wide out began brilliantly and showed early speed to lead before Clark came up the inside aboard Dublin Down to take up from running by the first turn.
He came to the bend in front and was going great guns sustaining his run and racing through the line well for a half-length upset over Anode who stuck on well for second.
Guaranteed Golden Slipper contender should connections back him up, Coleman ($5.50), got up for third in the Pago Pago Stakes trifecta nudging the disappointing favourite, Gatsby’s ($2.05F), out of the top three.
Dublin Down was 100/1 at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Golden Slipper before his Group 2 success second-up.
All-in 2024 Golden Slipper odds have firmed on the Pago Pago winner into $51.
The Pago Pago Stakes – Golden Slipper double was completed by Shinzo (2023) last year who was the first to do so since Stratum (2005).
McEvoy said they would keep options open with both the Slipper as well as the Group 1 $1 million Inglis Sires’ (1400m) at Randwick on April 6 realistic options.
“We will see,” he said of the Slipper next weekend.
“We weren’t sure whether he was more of a Sires’ (Produce Stakes) horse, so we will keep all of the options open.
“But he’s up here, he’s earned his way into the Slipper so we will give it great consideration.”
The McEvoy’s meanwhile could be dually represented in the Golden Slipper field with stablemate Rue De Royale in the mix at 100/1.
Click here for the latest pre-field Golden Slipper Stakes odds online courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.
2024 Pago Pago Stakes Results & Finishing Order
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | DUBLIN DOWN | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | Tim Clark | 6 | 55.5kg | $20 | |||
| 2 | 4 | ANODE | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Adam Hyeronimus | 0.44L | 11 | 55.5kg | $8.50 | ||
| 3 | 1 | COLEMAN | Matt Laurie | Tyler Schiller | 2.14L | 5 | 55.5kg | $5.50 | ||
| 4 | 7 | GATSBY’S | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 2.55L | 3 | 55.5kg | $2.05F | ||
| 5 | 5 | KING OF ROSEAU | Peter & Paul Snowden | Tom Sherry | 4.92L | 4 | 55.5kg | $21 | ||
| 6 | 9 | JOHNNY THE KID | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Regan Bayliss | 5.35L | 9 | 55.5kg | $26 | ||
| 7 | 2 | PARKOUR | James Cummings | Kerrin McEvoy | 6.46L | 2 | 55.5kg | $10 | ||
| 8 | 6 | DUVANA | Chris Waller | Jason Collett | 7.46L | 10 | 55.5kg | $9.50 | ||
| 9 | 12 | THE THREE HUNDRED | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Sam Clipperton | 8.19L | 1 | 55.5kg | $31 | ||
| 10 | 10 | AGENDA SETTER | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Joshua Parr | 9.54L | 7 | 55.5kg | $26 | ||
| 11 | 11 | GLORIOUS MOMENTS | Jim & Greg Lee | Reece Jones | 28.63L | 8 | 55.5kg | $201 | ||
| 8 | GROWING EMPIRE | Ciaron Maher | Tommy Berry | 0 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
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