Saturday, 29 March 2008: The South African connection of trainer David Payne and jockey Jeff Lloyd are counting the days to the AAMI Golden Slipper Stakes with tough filly Stripper after she confirmed her place in the final field with a determined win at Randwick today.
 | David Payne
Photo by Racing and Sports | |
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Lloyd, a six time champion jockey in South Africa, was thrilled to know he will be riding in his first Golden Slipper just four months after settling in Sydney as stable jockey for former countryman Payne.
Lloyd was riding
Stripper 
for just the second time in today's $125,000 Sweet Embrace Stakes where her last stride win promoted her from 23 rd on the order of entry for the Golden Slipper to a guaranteed start in the world's richest two-year-old race with ballot exemption.
"She's got be a great chance in the Slipper - it will be a big thrill to ride in the race for the first time," Lloyd said.
Stripper has now won two of her four starts with Payne rating her highly as a Slipper prospect.
"She was always the one among my two-year-olds this season," Payne said.
"She will be better later on over more ground but at the moment it's Stripper for the Slipper.
"She's very tough and knows how to find the line so I think she's is the right type to be running in the Slipper because you know the fast pace is going to suit her."
"I won't persevere with my other entries as they are not in the same class as this filly."
Stripper will be Payne's fourth runner in the Golden Slipper since he began training in Sydney three years ago and is hoping the filly will improve on the unplaced performances of his previous starters Flying Pegasus, Vecchia Roma and Hurried Choice.
Stripper ran marginally faster time than the colt All American in today's Skyline Stakes with the renowned strength of Lloyd in the driving finish evident as he lifted the filly to a last stride win over the pacy Glowlamp.
While Stripper does not have to start again before the Slipper on April 19, the Clarrry Conners-trained Glowlamp and third placegetter Samantha Miss will both need to finish first or second in the Magic Night Stakes at Rosehill on April 12 if they are to make the field.
Glowlamp has been placed in her three starts in Group and Listed races and is clearly the best maiden among the current crop of Sydney two-year-olds but has earned only $44,600 prizemoney.
Samantha Miss, heavily backed to start favoiuirte after her narrow debut win at Randwick, was ridden from the rear and sustained a strong finish to get third.
Her trainer Kris Lees said she is a filly who will excel in longer races but the focus remains on qualifying her for a Slipper start through the Magic Night Stakes.
Stripper wins the Sweet Embrace Stakes.
