3 minute read
A look at who the top 2YOs have been to date and how they measure up as Slipper hopes
Storm Boy : No reason to displace the son of Justify, who won the Magic Millions in a season-high 116, from top seed and he probably stays here until he next appears in the Group 2 Skyline Stakes (1200m) on March 2.
Lady Of Camelot : Like Storm Boy, nothing that happened on Saturday to displace her as A) the highest-rated filly of the season and the most likely female winner of the Blue Diamond. The daughter of Written Tycoon went 107 when first-up in the Widden Stakes, which was two pounds higher than Hayasugi ran to win last Saturday's Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) at her second run back from a spell.
Bodyguard : Joined Coleman as the highest-rated colts in Blue Diamond contention when he went 111 to win the Blue Diamond Colts & Geldings Prelude (1100m). That was only his second start, following a 101 debut win in the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate in November. That both Bodyguard and Coleman ran 111 at their first runs back, with both to head to the Blue Diamond second-up, suggests there's scope to hit Sydney in the right shape to run a number capable of having them in contention on Slipper Day.
Switzerland : No movement after not racing last weekend, but he could get the chance to change that in this Saturday's 1100m Pierro Plate at Randwick. The Snitzel colt could clash with Shangri La Express (Alabama Express), who was one of the early stars on the two-year-old season but hasn't been seen since his 104 win in the $1m Golden Gift on November 11.
Straight Charge : Keeping this Written By colt safe owing to his 109 win back on December 23 and he looked awesome winning an 816m Warwick Farm trial by 2-1/2 lengths in a time of 46.86secs on Monday. That suggested he's well and truly over the issue that kept him out of the Magic Millions, for which he was battling it out for favouritism with Storm Boy at the time of his withdrawal.
While there is no Group racing for two-year-olds this weekend, the Slipper picture could be shaped with some blueblood debutants joining Switzerland and Shangri La Express among the Pierro Plate entries, while the Listed Talindert Stakes is the Victorian feature at Flemington.
