The Golden Slipper, 11 top class 2yo run for the money in the Golden Slipper. Kostya is the favourite haven beaten Rocket in the Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield. Rocket was second favourite on the strength of his Sires Produce win over Ketonuria. Life On Mars recently beat sprinting sensation Run Missy Run in the Newmarket. Arctic Silver and Da Vinci Code were also fancied on the basis of their amazing consistency.
Of the eleven runners, there were seven colts and four fillies. Every horse deserved their spot, even Parole Violation, who won the Breeders Stakes at Flemington after a slow start. They stepped in the gates, the 50,000 strong crowd buzzed with excitement, they had come to see Jenny’s My Gal but they were to see an awesome spurt of speed by Rocket. Racing, out they come. Rocket took a forward position with Badge, with Borgata Romana behind them from Olmo Dorato. Then followed Da Vinci Code with Kostya, Arctic Silver & Blue Hawaii. Life On Mars and Ketonuria were a mile back, they never saw the leader.
WHOOSH! Kostya went up to Rocket and headed him, but showing immeasurable courage, Rocket fought back. The crowd went crazy, all dignity forgotten. Rocket was fighting back! Stride for stride, hammer and tongs, Rocket started to edge ever so closer. Kostya wasn’t giving in. But finally the colt from Thunder Lodge, Rocket prevailed from Kostya by a length. The jockey celebrated wildly as they passed the winning post, a la Glen Boss after a Melbourne Cup win.
Life On Mars, ran on late as usual, followed by Magic Millions winner Blue Hawaii who had ran out of her skin at $14 on the tote. Behind her was Arctic Silver who had broken down in the home straight but kept on running for fifth. Da Vinci Code ran his consistent race, close behind her was Borgata Romana. Bonjansky followed with Badge, Ketonuria and Parole Violation rounding out a magnificent Golden Slipper field.
Rocket backed up a week later amazingly, and beat a weaker but still good AJC Sires Produce field. That lifted his earnings to $2,692,100 with six wins, three seconds and three thirds from 12 starts. He’s a champion 2yo.
The next race on the card was the BMW, otherwise known as the Mercedes Classic. Jenny’s My Gal, (also known as JMG) was a hot favourite at $1.50. Next fancied in the betting was Retribution at $4.50, Princess Royale at $5.00, Mystic River at $6.00 and Smarty Gone Wild at $26.00. The crowd had not yet quietened down after Rocket’s amazing win 40 minutes earlier.
RACING! The race caller screams. They went out in an even line but that didn’t last. Jenny’s My Gal sped to the lead and dictated terms, Retribution was behind her, and Mystic River, Princess Royale and Smarty Gone Wild were a fair way back. As they went to the turn, Mystic River went up to Jenny’s My Gal and the crowd anticipated another street-fight. But they were wrong. Showing huge amounts of speed and stamina, Jenny’s My Gal went away to street the field by 6 lengths. Princess Royale ran on late, Retribution ran his usual honest race and Mystic River and Smarty Gone Wild filled the last two spots.
The win lifted Jenny’s My Gal to fifth on the all-time prize money list, led by A Bus. Jenny’s My Gal had now won $13,901,500 and he looks like a certain Breeders Cup Classic winner. But Breeders Cup Classic is the race where legends are made and anything can happen. But Jenny’s My Gal should be too good for them.
In the other Group 1 on the card, the Ansett Australia Stakes, Policromia out fought Saline Solution to win by three quarters of a length. Queen Street was a tad disappointing in third and Tropical Flirt rounded out the race.
It was a great race-day, and people will be talking about it for years. Amazingly, Linköping beat Jenny’s My Gal two years ago in the AJC Sires Produce ran in the opening race, failing to run down Secret Shape. My hot tip, Dancin In The Dark for Victorian Racing Stables ran third in the second race, but was found to be sore behind Cashew.
Thanks for reading and happy racing!
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By: Josh Kayll
