Ruby Slipper Filly Prelude
Welcome all to the first running of the Ruby Slipper Filly Prelude in what is the qualifying leg for the Ruby Slipper Final. The first six fillies across the line will meet the first six colts in the Ruby Slipper Colt Prelude in what many in the Australian Conglomerate are calling the biggest race of the year. The Australian Conglomerate is made up of eight trainers and this year the four most active and prominent trainers have been invited to enter three fillies each into this race.
The race will be over 5f on turf for a purse of $50,000 in what looks to be an even affair. More important than the purse will be Conglomerate bragging rights and national pride as Captain Nog (hawk43), Deyoto Lefranse (deyoto), Wolfgang Vansheen (vansheen) and Gianluigi Aggulotto (ladofmanor) go head to head.
Eleven fillies have emerged amongst the controversy to greet the starter at Victoria on a firm track as we take a look at how they will line up.
PP #1 – GIRLY(AUS) – STRATUM x EL GRAN SENOR x SEATTLE SLEW (Nog) 7/1
Fitting name for the first runner representing the Captain Nog Empire. Out of 2005 Golden Slipper winner and first year sire Stratum who has not had a winner in fourteen runs to date. Stratum best as a sprinter and his bloodlines push towards a turf influence. Looks as if she has a mix of both stamina and predominant speed. Game dam only won one race in twelve starts on dirt at route distance. Jockey S Nightingale is eight wins at 12.9% for the year and has three years experience. Good chance also with inside barrier.
PP #2 – SEATTLTUDE(KY) – APTITUDE x SILVER CHARM x SEATTLE SLEW (Aggulotto) 9/1
Sire is eight runners for one winner on dirt this year and has been used with some very handy DS combinations. Stats say the sire produces best on dirt on a route trip and with what appears to be substantial stamina influences through the DS line I do not expect a whole lot from this filly. Jockey N Hartel is seventeen wins at 9.9% this year and will have a task ahead of him this week.
PP #3 – WHO IS PAN(KY) – JOHANNESBURG x ZABEEL(NZ) x SADLER’S WELLS (Nog) 6/1
Doesn’t look as if she will even warm up this week at 5f as she is bred to want a lot more. Game dam had one win in eleven career starts which was on turf at route distance. Stable of hawk43 has had massive influx of new 2yo’s of late and although this filly doesn’t look an immediate prospect, she could figure when the mile races begin. Jockey M Valley brings three wins at 12% for the year.
PP #4 – HEARTWOOD SHINARA(GER) – MONSUN(GER) x RED RANSOM x GREEN DESERT (Lefranse) 6/1
Filly from same stable as war horse King Of Kilmore and Carol Of The Bells who looks to want further than 5f. Monsun has had twelve runners for no wins this year, all which have run on turf. 2yo colt Revhead from hydrogen stables is a full brother to Heartwood Shinara and has had one run on turf at 6f with a 44 SP for 12th. J Kohlmorgen is thirty-three wins at 15.4% this year and is a massive advantage here.
PP #5 – RATTLE ‘N’ HUM(ENG) – SAKHEE x FORTY NINER x NORTHERN DANCER (Aggulotto) 4/1
Game dam had two starts for a dirt sprinting win and has no progeny that are overly successful. Sakhee has had four winning progeny from eighteen races this year including multiple turf winning 2yo colt Afleet Dreaming who’s DS is Afleet – a son of Mr. Prospector as is Forty Niner. I bred Rattle ‘N’ Hum specifically for this race and have big expectations. Has cream of the crop aboard in D Evans who has sixty-one wins at 27.1% this year and I am tipping this young lass the winner.
PP #6 – INVINCIBILITY(IRE) – INVINCIBLE SPIRIT (IRE) x SEATTLE SLEW x ROBERTO (Lefranse) 4/1
Deyoto Lefranse must have been suffering from dehydration when naming this filly. He often makes outlandish comments and statements but he has really gone the whole hog with this one. Invincible Sprint has one winner from fifteen races this year and has a total of fifty progeny in the game with fifteen of them being winners. Named after himself, jockey R Dogs is two wins at 6.5% this year and looks as if he may have to wait a little longer to enhance this record.
PP #7 – HAIL HAIL(KY) – ROMAN RULER x SINGSPIEL(IRE) x CHIEF’S CROWN (Vansheen) 25/1
This wacky trainer has lost the plot of late, under pressure from his nine-month old daughter Ava after she took up sim training some months back. Vansheen has the three outsiders in this race and Hail Hail is defiantly one of them. Finished twelve lengths behind in debut in the DUR Glass Slipper on dirt running a SP of 49 and it is hard to tell if she will run better on turf. Roman Ruler has started the year very well with three winners from eighteen races however, all three wins have occurred on dirt. Thirteen years experience in N Fagan aboard who has nine wins at 8.5%.
PP #8 – ANOTHER CAT(TUR) – MOUNTAIN CAT x GONE WEST x DANZIG (Nog) 4/1
One of three favorites in this race is Another Cat who’s game dam had twelve races for no wins. A big positive is that Mountain Cat has three winners from seventeen races this year but as with Invincible Spirit, all three have been on dirt. Jockey G Radcliff has just two wins at 11% this year however I believe that Another Cat will put in a good showing. Hard race to predict but has good breeding and a good winning sire.
PP #9 – BUTTON COUNTING(IRE) – REFUSE TO BEND (IRE) x GEIGER COUNTER x BOLD RULER (Lefranse) 13/1
Scratch bred by Lefranse in honor of their families mare Button Counter. 3rd year sire Refuse To Bend has two winners from ten races including 2yo colt Hannah’s Horizon who ran a SP of 73 to win on debut. Both winners have been on turf in a great sign for Lefranse however blood lines lean more towards a longer trip. Jockey Bi Clark is two wins from twenty-two races and looks to have a hard days work in front of him if he is to win this.
PP #10 – BORN SLIPPY(AUS) – BEL ESPRIT (AUS) x GILDED TIME x DANEHILL (Vansheen) 24/1
Another Vansheen runner into this off a disappointing DUR Glass Slipper run on dirt. Bel Esprit was a G1 Blue Diamond and G1 Doomben 10,000 winner and therefore suits this trip. He has had five progeny to race this year for one win in which 2yo colt Spell Esprit ran a SP of 76 on turf. Breeding does suggest he will be better on turf and his game dam Bonehill ran ITM 75% of the time as a 2yo including a stakes win on turf at 5.5f. Jockey P Lipps is seven wins at 15.6% this year and I am tipping Born Slippy will run ITM this week.
PP #11 – LOMOFO(AUS) – GENERAL NEDIYM (AUS) x SLEW O’ GOLD x GONE WEST (Vansheen) 33/1
This daughter of General Nediym will have to grow wings to be in this based on her previous run in the 2yo Australian Sires Challenge. Sire is yet to record a winner from eight progeny and looks as if that stat may become worst via Lomofo’s efforts in this race. After posting a 42 SP on turf on debut when last of fifteen runners, it is hard to see her develop and win this. Jockey S Raymond is three wins at 12% however I would want twice the odds.
Suggested Bet:
Born Slippy great value – each way.
Box trifecta: Born Slippy, Rattle ‘N’ Hum, Heartwood Shinara, Girly.