Dual Golden Slipper-winning trainer Peter Snowden believes there is a sense of timing about Cosmic Force who has assumed favouritism for this year's $3.5 million race after the barrier draw.
Cosmic Force streeted his rivals by seven lengths on a heavy track in Saturday's Pago Pago Stakes and has firmed from $6 to $5 favourite for Saturday's Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill after drawing barrier two in a capacity field.
Yes Yes Yes was the $5 favourite before Tuesday's draw but was wound out to $7 after coming up with the widest barrier in the field of 16 plus three emergencies.
Godolphin trainer James Cummings has six acceptors – Bivouac is first emergency – including Microphone and Tenley who share the second line of betting at $6 after drawing barriers one and six respectively.
Snowden won his first Golden Slipper with champion colt Sepoy in 2011 when he was head trainer for Sheikh Mohammed before winning again in 2016 with Capitalist after forming a training partnership with his son Paul.
The Snowdens also have Anaheed and Catch Me in Saturday's race, along with second emergency Rome.
Snowden says his three are legitimate chances and deserve their spots in the 16-horse field, but admits he has been taken with the way Cosmic Force has been coming to the fore at the right time.
The colt has also shown he can handle rain-affected ground with his dominant Pago Pago win.
“What he's done in the past three or four weeks has been just what you want to see from a two-year-old going forward,” Snowden said.
“He won great on Saturday. He might have been flattered by the opposition, they probably got a bit tired late, but I said before the race just how much he had improved and I was pleased to see him do what I thought he was going to do.
“And what he has done since that race has been unbelievable.
“He hasn't left a bite. He's a tough horse. He's a super relaxed horse.”
Jockey Blake Shinn won on Capitalist for the Snowdens but he will be in an opposition camp on Saturday when he rides the Chris Waller-trained Todman Stakes winner Yes Yes Yes.
“My initial thought is obviously a little bit deflating,” Shinn said of the outside barrier.
“But it is what it is. We can't change it. We'll just have to come up with a game plan and there's a lot to unfold.
“But at the end of the day I've got a horse I believe that can win the race.”
Skyline Stakes winner Microphone's inside draw has Cummings' assistant, former champion jockey Darren Beadman, seemingly leaning his way as the stable's leading Slipper hope among the host of genuine chances.
“He's just going to get the gun run,” Beadman said.
“If I was riding, I would be on him.”
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