Aggulotto favourite to take out the 2016 Ruby Slipper
The Ruby Slipper
The Ruby Slipper is the feature juvenile race on Trainer’s Trophy Day (TT Day) ran over 8f on turf for pre qualified horses via the Ruby Slipper Preludes. Of the two juvenile events the Ruby Slipper is regarded as the ‘class’ while the Kitsa Flat Knacker is regarded as the ‘ar$e’.
Four weeks ago the Australian Conglomerate (AC) hosted two preludes both over 7.5f, a colts prelude and a fillies prelude with each trainer allowed 5 runners per prelude and the top 7 horses across the line qualifying for the final. If a qualified horse doesn’t take its spot then the order of entry to fill the field is based on sp rather than finishing position.
This year Gianluigi Aggulotto took out both preludes with Midnight Gluttony and Respectfully Yours taking out the fillies and colts events respectively. Both were impressive winners and will be tough to beat in the final on Sunday.
Represented in the event are 6 runners from Champion Lodge (Deyoto Lefranse), 6 runners from Briant Breeding & Racing Empire (Gianluigi Aggulotto) and 2 runners from the Cartel (C.Nog & J. de Conte). Big Tommy will be unrepresented in the event after failing to qualify a runner.
Without further ado let’s take a look at our final field of 14 for this weekend’s Ruby Slipper in order of qualifying entry.
1. RESPECTFULLY YOURS (Adelaide x Montjeu x Kingmambo) G.Aggulotto
Fastest to qualify naturally the favourite as a result. This colt was every bit of impressive in winning the colts prelude by 1.5L in an impressive time so take poll position for this.
In the hands of an astute trainer he will be hard to hold out here. Bred for the mile ready to go. Hard to beat.
2. SHAMENTO (Shamardal x High Chaparral x Invincible Spirit) D.Lefranse
Ran faster than the winning time in the fillies prelude so qualifies officially 2nd for the Slipper. Boom colt from Champion Lodge out of one of the great AC families hailing from the great race mare Invincibility. Breeding says he wants the 8f and after two huge runs from just as many career starts this colt has his trainer’s confidence of reversing the prelude result come Sunday. Huge chance.
3. MIDNIGHT GLUTTONY (Exceed & Excel x Awesome Again x Sadler’s Wells) G.Aggulotto
Winner of the fillies prelude in impressive barnstorming fashion. This filly looks a genuine superstar in the making and will be sure to finishing with her late charge at the mile here. Breeding is super, form is super, undefeated can’t knock her. Biggest challenge for ‘the Glutton’’ as her fans call her is taking on the colts. That aside many are still tipping her to be the victor here. Will relish the extra ground in this. Hard to beat.
4. BEST EXTRA STOUT (Siyouni x Oasis Dream x Kingmambo) G.Aggulotto
Ran a good 3rd in good time in the colts prelude though wasn’t a match for the top 2. Hard to tell whether he’ll like the mile or not having a sprint sire at both DS and S. He’s a good colt this one and will be giving a sight for a bulk of the way however I think the ones listed ahead of him have his measure in this and see him finishing more towards mid field when the race is run and won.
5. DEL REY (Pivotal x Invincible Spirit x Seattle Slew) D.Lefranse
The second of our fillies to qualify Del Rey is the 4th foal from AC great Invincibility. Unlike many in this race she has already tried the mile where she excelled running an 85 sp where she flashed home for 2nd narrowly missing two starts back in mid August. Well bred, from a legendary race mare proven at the trip expect Del Rey to be in the finish. Winning chance.
6. GAME OF STEVENS (Invincible Spirit x Danehill x Diesis) C.Nog
The first of the Cartel entrants qualified in 6th position and looks a good shot here in the Slipper. Bred to go well at the mile and coming off an impressive prelude GOS looks to have the goods to mix it with them here. For the Cartel this race looks to be about quality not quantity and they should be well represented by this colt.
7. MOOLOOLABA DREAMS (Redoute’s Choice x Montjeu x Kingmambo) D.Lefranse
Started out his career in impressive fashion but hasn’t been the same horse since his 2nd start following his debut win. Has posted sps higher than many of these here in the final and also raced in classier company which is in his favour. For me one of the harder horses to assess in this, leaning towards thinking he wants a spell and a return for his 3yo season.
8. JUXTAPOSED (Darci Brahma x Sadler’s Wells x Mr Prospector) G.Aggulotto
Showed a good turn of foot winning on dirt on debut but since then has ran twice on turf missing the placings both times. Several things look against him here namely surface and distance so unless Aggulotto has something up his sleeve that the rest of us don’t know about I find it hard to have him in contention here.
9. EXCESSIVE EXCEL (Exceed & Excel x Storm Cat x Forty Niner) G.Aggulotto
FAST FAST FAST. Bred with speed to burn and looks like she would have been an ideal KFK candidate rather than the Ruby Slipper. Hasn’t done anything wrong to date and her breeding is all class so can’t dismiss this Aggulotto filly here without some thought. My biggest question mark is the distance for her given her breeding of 3 x speed influences and also looks a dirt runner to me. Think the colts have the fillies covered in this race and 9th is about where I have her.
10. SIYOUNI BLUE (Siyouni X Dynaformer x Deputy Minister) D.Lefranse
Another colt from Champion Lodge that has also seen the mile where he performed well indicating he will relish the return to that distance here. His mile run has been a better result than any of his other 3 outings and his half brother Fastnet Blue will start close to favourite in the feature mile race on TT Day the Miss Timoshenko Mile. Breeding and form says he is up to the challenge but may lack a class edge on a couple of the others here. One to watch and can surprise.
11. SALSA ROCKS (Frankel x Exceed & Excel x Fappiano) D.Lefranse
3rd filly from G1 winnign race mare Hataka and by Frankel, European superstar. This filly has the breeding to be anything and on bloodlines alone is the rolls Royce of the field. On form she is more like grandmas clapped out Honda. Perhaps she wants a surface switch to dirt, perhaps she is a late maturer or perhaps she is saving her best work for the big stage and is ready to make her mark. Hasn’t the form but cannot write this gal off. Big watch.
12. KITSA RYU (Sepoy x Danehill Dancer x Sadler’s Wells)
Gained entry for this based on the non-acceptance of stable mate Forest Secrets from the fillies prelude. KR has already proven he wants a mile + and is so far one run for one win at the distance posting an 85sp. Despite his low order of qualifying and late acceptance for this race punters write him off at your peril. He will relish the return to the mile and I believe he is a winning chance on exposed form. Out of the great race mare Kitsa this colt will be one of the likely leaders of this field and look the winner at some stage.
13. VALLEY OF PANG (Dansili x Zabeel x Mill Reef) J. de Conte
The 2nd of the two Cartel horses looks to be down the pecking order for this. Her qualifying time wasn’t flash and she’s less fancied of the two Cartel runners however on the upside she will be looking for sharp improvement going to the mile based on her breeding. Hard to have her here but got to respect de Conte and the ability of the Cartel to pull of upsets after their result in the Spring Prelude which will forever be known as the ‘Gilgamesh debarcle’. Others preferred.
14. EXCEED & FRANKEL (Exceed & Excel x Frankel X Seeking The Gold) G.Aggulotto
This filly is 2 wins from 3 starts and forget the run last start in the prelude where she wasn’t favoured by either the pace of the race or the distance. Her two runs before that were excellent and stepping back up to the mile look out! She is 14th by entry order but I believe the best smokey in the race. Will finish top half of the field. Definite danger.
Selections
- Midnight Gluttony
- Shamento
- Respectfully Yours
Good luck to all runners in what promises to be the best Ruby Slipper yet!