THE Victorians are coming.
The Mick Price-trained duo Extreme Choice and Flying Artie took to the track this morning in preparation for Saturday's $3.5 million Golden Slipper.
The 2016 Blue Diamond-winner and runner-up worked alongside each other on the Rosehill track with punters keen to see how they ran clock-wise.
Current Golden Slipper favourite, Extreme Choice, has won in NSW before, but this will be stablemate Flying Artie's first try at running in the opposite direction.
The duo ran their last 600 metres in a comfortable 35.65 seconds, with the final 200 metres in 11.81.
Price described the work as ideal and the run was all about them getting used to the Rosehill track.
“My horses, I've done plenty of reverse work at Caulfield with them and they've handled it very well,” Price said.
“I wanted them to have a look at the course proper.”
Extreme Choice won the Inglis Nursery on debut in January and will now race in the China Horse Club colours after a deal was struck valuing it at $20 million should it win on Saturday.
“Extreme Choice I'm not concerned about because he's adaptable and has been here before,” Price said.
“Flying Artie made the turn okay and they worked on terms. I don't need them to be running any quicker.”
Extreme Choice is the $3.50 favourite prior to the barrier draw with Sportsbet.com.au. Other bookmakers are offering as low as $3.
Flying Artie looks a value chance at $6 with Godolphin's best chance Astern sitting on the third line of betting at $9 alongside the Gai Waterhouse-trained Kiss And Make Up.
Cummings trying to emulate his grandfather
Legendary trainer Bart Cummings won the Golden Slipper with his first runner in 1966 (Storm Queen) and grandson James is looking to repeat that feat this Saturday at Rosehill.
Fifty years after his grandfather won the Slipper, James Cummings will line up Good Standing for the feature and Cummings admitted he is using his late grandfather's advice.
“Bart was always very big on keeping it simple, training the horse was the easy part,” Cummings said.
“My grandfather was always reminding me to make sure the horse is well-fed and to keep them happy and in their routine, which we have certainly done with this colt.”
Good Standing won the Skyline Stakes in impressive fashion last start and its odds have firmed in from $15 to $13 at CrownBet.com.au. Hugh Bowman rode the colt on that occasion and it's a good sign he has chosen to stick with it.
“I saddled up a few Golden Slipper runners for Bart, but Good Standing is my first runner in my own name,” Cummings said.
“The colt is spot on and we were very happy with his work between races last Saturday. It was exactly what we wanted from him.
“He has come on from his first-up run, he goes into the Slipper off a win and with Sydney's best jockey, Hugh Bowman, so he has plenty going for him.”
Cummings said he had a Golden Slipper campaign set for Good Standing at an early stage.
“What he showed us in his work and trials before Christmas spoke volumes of his ability,” Cummings said.
“My feeling, even when the colt had his first start and was beaten in November, was that he would be getting to where we are this week with the Golden Slipper on Saturday.
“He is a really top class individual and I just think he has what it takes to be competitive.”
2016 Golden Slipper final field, barrier draw and market
The 17 acceptances were received for the 2016 Golden Slipper with an even spread of nine colts and eight fillies entered.
Popular elect Extreme Choice has drawn evenly in barrier seven with stablemate Flying Artie getting all favours from barrier five.
John O'Shea got the worst of the barrier draw this morning with his three runners all drawing wide. Astern has drawn barrier 17, Telperion in 12 and Calliope in 15. The market has subsequently been affected by the barrier draws and there have been some movers and shakers.
The two Mick Price-trained runners have come in for more support and the three Godolphin runners have all drifted since the barrier draws were released.
1. Extreme Choice (7) – $3.00
2. Flying Artie (5) – $5.00
3. Defcon (14) – $21
4. Kiss And Make Up (9) – $9.00
5. Astern (17) – $11
6. Star Turn (11) – $41
7. Capitalist (2) – $9.00
8. Good Standing (10) – $13
9. Telperion (12) – $26
10. French Fern (13) – $201
11. Scarlet Rain (16) – $26
12. Calliope (15) – $15
13. Yankee Rose (3) – $34
14. Sweet Sherry (8) – $101
15. Honesty Prevails (6) – $41
16. Quick Feet (1) – $201
17. Moqueen (4) – $301