The road to the Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper

Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan

With just three weeks until the G1 Blue Diamond S. (1200 metres) and six weeks until the G1 Golden Slipper S. (1200 metres), the 2-year-old scene begins to ramp up, as connections eye a spot in the country’s pre-eminent events for juveniles.

Saturday sees two races - one in Sydney, the other in Melbourne - that could help the picture for these time-honoured events become clearer.

The opening race at Randwick is the Lonhro Plate (1000 metres) – a Listed contest that hasn’t had a great bearing on the Slipper or Diamond over time, although, 2016 winner, Telperion, did, run fourth in the former.

The most noteworthy winner of the race is Bivouac, who was victorious in 2019. The triple Group 1 hero didn’t run in the Slipper after finishing fourth in the G2 Todman S., but he did go on to take out the G3 Kindergarten S. at his final run as a 2-year-old.

Last year’s winner, Cythera (I Am Invincible), went on to run third behind Best Of Bordeaux (Snitzel) in the G2 Silver Slipper S. and she also didn’t run in the Slipper, nor did 2021 scorer Tilianam (NZ) (Savabeel) or 2020 first placegetter, Supreme Idea (I Am Invincible).

Two of the past three winners are by Australia’s Champion Sire, I Am Invincible, and he is well-represented in 2023, with three runners.

This year’s field will see seven 2-year-olds face the starter, after Zulfiqar (Exceed And Excel), who will line up in Melbourne, and Capital Heart (Capitalist), were both scratched.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Sicilian (I Am Invincible), who was unplaced on debut in the G3 Gimcrack S. when well in the market, is likely to start favourite, and she should jump straight to the front off gate one under Tim Clark.

Sicilian, who is from the stakes performer Pursuits (Lonhro) and was a $650,000 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase from the Yarraman Park Stud draft, has been to the trials twice ahead of her return, winning on both occasions.

Finishing just ahead of Sicilian in the Gimcrack was Satin And Silk (I Am Invincible) – a homebred for Belinda Bateman from the Group 2 victress Satin Shoes (Flying Spur), making this filly a half-sister to Bateman’s Listed winner Satin Slipper (Pierro).

Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, Satin And Silk will be guided by Sam Clipperton.

Another runner that is sure to have admirers on Saturday is the Michael Freedman-trained Madeira Sunrise (I Am Invincible), who has shown ability at the trials.

She, too, was consigned by Yarraman Park Stud, this time at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where she fetched $200,000.

A close relation to the Listed winner You’re So Good (NZ) (Savabeel), Madeira Sunrise will be handled on debut by James McDonald and will break from stall three.

Freedman’s stablemate, Mexico (Capitalist), will be looking to race into feature race contention and he has tuned up for his return with two trial victories in January at Randwick.

The colt, who was bought by and races for the James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership, was second to Arkansaw Kid (Harry Angel {Ire}) on debut at The Valley, before being unplaced in the $1 million Golden Gift, which was won by the unbeaten Barber (Exceed And Excel).

Mexico – a close relation to the Listed winner Tequila Knowledge (Knowledge) - was offered by Newgate Farm at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, where he realised $375,000.

He will be ridden by Brett Prebble off barrier six.

Annabel Neasham has a couple of first starters in the race, they being Tawfiq Star (Tosen Stardom {Jpn}) and Portorosa (Not A Single Doubt).

Tawfiq Star, who is from a half-sister to the Listed winner Mutate (Octagonal {NZ}), was bought for $42,500 at the 2022 Inglis May (Early) Online Sale and runs for Australian Bloodstock.

Chad Schofield has been booked to ride the colt, who has trialled on two occasions, finishing second behind the highly impressive midweek winner Militarize (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}) last time out.

Portorosa, meanwhile, made $650,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She is from a half-sister to the stakes winner Seewind (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), was offered by Arrowfield Stud, and was knocked down to Annabel Neasham/Brian McGuire/TFI Ladies.

Regan Bayliss will partner Portorosa, who has drawn barrier two.

The other runner in the race is the Norm Gardner-trained Miss Belgium (Capitalist), a $130,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale buy, who broke her maiden at Canberra last start.

Tyler Schiller will ride the filly from barrier five.

G3 Chairman’s Stakes

With Caulfield out of action due to renovations, Sandown-Hillside will host the G3 Chairman’s S. (1000 metres) in 2023.

This race has produced a Slipper winner – 2010 victress Crystal Lily (Stratum). She headed to Sydney and claimed the G3 Sweet Embrace S. enroute to Group 1 glory.

Six years later, top colt, now star sire, Extreme Choice won the Chairman’s, before finishing midfield in the Slipper, while Ennis Hill (Fastnet Rock) – the dam of last Saturday’s stunning G3 Widden S. heroine Learning To Fly (Justify {USA}), scored in this race in 2018.

Gallery: A selection of previous winners of the Chairman's S.

Last year, Sebonack (Capitalist), won his race on debut, then ran a solid fourth in the Diamond.

Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible) was another debut winner of the Chairman’s (in 2019) and she would run a close sixth in the Diamond, before placing fourth in the Slipper.

In 2017, Formality (Fastnet Rock) took out the Chairman’s and then third in the Diamond.

Headway (Charge Forward), was a dominant winner of this race in 2009 and she would finish runner-up in the Slipper to Phelan Ready (More Than Ready {USA}) two starts later.

This year’s edition boasts a field of nine, including the Listed Maribyrnong Trial S. hero, Zulfiqar, who is out of the Elusive Quality (USA) mare Sayf Shamal (USA), who is in turn out of Alizes (NZ) (Rory’s Jester), winner of the G2 Magic Night S.

The James Cummings-trained, Godolphin-owned colt has the services of Ben Melham and the inside stall.

Heading the market is the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Veecee (Capitalist), who could hardly have been more impressive when winning at Flemington on debut last month.

A $750,000 buy from the Tyreel Stud draft at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, the colt is from an unraced half-sister to the stakes winners Pistols (Dehere {USA}) and Keep The Faith.

Also well in commission is Serasana (Snitzel), who resumes for Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock after a nice debut win at Sandown-Hillside in December.

Consigned by her breeder, Kia Ora Stud, at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Griffiths de Kock Racing / MDK International and Peter Ford Thoroughbreds (FBAA) went to $400,000 for the daughter of Group 2 victress Twilight Royale (Testa Rossa).

Lindsay Park has won this race with Ulfah (Encosta De Lago), Whisper Bay (Royal Academy {USA}), Mama’s Choice (Redoute’s Choice), Formality and Ennis Hill, and they have a two-pronged attack in 2023.

Ben and JD Hayes will saddle Miss Burgoyne (Capitalist) and Tacito (Showtime) in the $200,000 scamper.

Gallery: Lindsay Park's 2023 G3 Chairman's S. runners

Miss Burgoyne, who will be handled by Michael Dee, was bought by Bennett Racing for $120,000 from the Rothwell Park Thoroughbreds draft at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and she is from the 1000-metre winner Silk Sheets (Exceed And Excel), who is a half-sister to the stakes performer Wedgie (Foxwedge).

And Tacito, who has the services of Daniel Stackhouse, was purchased by Lindsay Park Racing for $160,000 from the Lime Country Thoroughbreds consignment at the same sale. The colt runs for a ladies’ syndicate and hails from the brilliant Shantha’s Choice (Canny Lad) family.