3 minute read
A look at some of the other angles from Golden Slipper day.
Busy Bourke pulls off hit-and-run raid
It might have only been a Midway race, but Elettrica's Golden Slipper day victory felt much more significant for Molly Bourke.
The three-kilo claiming apprentice was overjoyed to land a win at one of Sydney's flagship race days of the year with a deft display aboard the Richard and Will Freedman-trained mare.
"It's such a thrill, just to get my name out here and be getting a winner on such a big day, it's a dream come true," Bourke said.
"She is so deserving of it this mare, she has been so consistent."
Elettrica was Bourke's only ride at Rosehill, the junior jockey subsequently making the dash to Kembla Grange where she was successful aboard Dark Glitter for Mick Van Gestel.
The Rosehill win was also a moment to savour for the mare's co-trainer Will Freedman.
Freedman is often behind the microphone as part of the 7 Racing team and took delight in his role reversal in being the interviewee.
"It is nice to be talking about my own horse for a change," Freedman said.
"It looked a little sticky around the 300-metre mark but Molly kept her composure and she was good enough to get there."
Elettrica ($5) scored by 3-1/2 lengths over Danish Prince ($8.50) with Kingston Charm ($14) another half-length away third.
Haggas makes another big Impression
Wily English trainer William Haggas has pulled off another Sydney autumn carnival coup, producing Post Impressionist for a first-up win in Saturday's N E Manion Cup (2400m) at Rosehill.
Tom Marquand settled the horse last and brought him with a swift run down the outside to blouse his rivals by 3-1/2 lengths with Manzoice doing best of the chasers.
Haggas and fellow Englishman Marquand have been a lethal partnership in the harbour city, plundering Group 1 races with Addeybb and Dubai Honour in recent years, while Saturday was the trainer's third Manion Cup success following victories by Young Rascal (2020) and Favourite Moon (2021).
Marquand rates Post Impressionist as the most impressive of Haggas' three Manion Cup winners and says the masterful trainer is a genius at travelling his horses.
"I really think that form is something we haven't seen from those previous winners," Marquand said.
"The horse has done so well in the process.
"William gets it right, he has got it down to a tee."
Post Impressionist is raced by Lloyd Williams, who purchased him following his most recent win at Haydock in September.
Connections are open-minded on plans with next weekend's Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill a possibility, while he has 50kg in next month's Sydney Cup (3200m).
"They've done a terrific job with him getting him here and we'll see how he pulls up and see if he can go on with it," said Nick Williams, representing his father Lloyd.
"You'd have to think about the Tancred (Stakes), you'd have to think about the Sydney Cup. We'll let William decide."
Osmose races to first Australian victory
After a number of placings in the past 12 months, imported mare Osmose has broken through for her first Australian win in the Group Three Epona Stakes.
Osmose won two of her seven starts in France and since joining the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable last year the mare had registered four Group race placings from eight starts before Saturday's victory.
"Full credit to the mare," Bott said.
"She is deserving of a stakes win like that. She has been very consistent since she arrived here in Australia and it's good to get a stakes win for all the connections.
"She had been around the mark, she just needs this sort of trip and she got it today."
Ridden by Tim Clark, Osmose was sent out the $2.90 favourite in the 1900m race for fillies and mares and settled third on the fence behind stablemate Howgoodareyou before making her winning run in the home straight.
Osmose hit the front approaching the 200m and held off Thalassophile to score by a long neck with Rivaport third.
Bott said they would assess where to head next with Osmose while Clark believes the mare will be even better suited if she were to strike rain-affected ground.
"If she got onto a heavy track in a better race I think she'd be more than competitive," Clark said.
"But it's good to see her get the win. She deserved that."
Brave colt set on G1 path
Ciaron Maher is tempted to give Brave Mead a Group 1 opportunity against the older sprinters this autumn, nominating the All Aged Stakes (1400m) during The Championships as a likely target.
The colt notched his fifth win from 11 starts to account for a strong field in the Listed Darby Munro Stakes (1200m) on Saturday, prompting Maher to dream bigger.
"I thought we could work toward an All Aged, give him a chance to step up there," Maher said.
"He was very tough today, Blake (Shinn) put him into the race early and took luck out of it.
"We know he can run 1400 so that's the rough plan I had for him."
There was a delay to the start of the race when Corniche anticipated the start and broke through the gates, with two other runners, Red Resistance and Rhythm Of Love, backed out and vetted.
Red Resistance failed his inspection and was a late scratching while the other two were passed fit to run.
Brave Mead jumped well and camped behind the speed before chasing down Schwarz to score by a half length with Corniche working right to the line for third, another head away.
Shinn said a good start was key for Brave Mead after he got back from a wide gate when runner-up in the Zeditave Stakes at Caulfield last start.
"He jumped better than at Caulfield so I could be five lengths closer and I think that's the difference between winning and losing today," Shinn said.
Quote of the Day: ""The Golden Slipper is just the most incredible race to win. You never tire of this feeling you get winning the Golden Slipper." – Trainer Gai Waterhouse after claiming her eighth Golden Slipper with Lady Of Camelot.
