Even though it is named after the first Golden Slipper winner and one of the greatest racehorses to have graced the Australian Turf, the Todman Slipper Trial on Saturday is unlikely to be a great pointer for the Slipper itself. Only three past winners, Luskin Star in 1977, Marauding in 1987 and Tierce in 1991 have gone on to win the 2yo Classic.
Todman Past Winners
That isn’t to say that some great horses haven’t won the race, and Charge Forward, Exceed And Excel, General Nediym and even the great Octagonal have been victorious and have gone on to bigger and better things. It is just that the Slipper seems to elude the winners of the Todman.
Father And Son Trainers
This weekend sees the return of the Magic Millions winner, Phelan Ready. Magic Million’s winners also have a poor record in the Slipper. This is the first interstate runner for McLachlan father and son team of Bruce and Jason. Prior to forming the partnership, Bruce had little success in NSW, and will be hoping for Jason to improve his strike rate.
Another father and son combination that will have interest on Saturday is that of the Hawkes family of John, Michael and Wayne. John Hawkes hasn’t had success in the race since Octagonal, so will be another father hoping that his sons can bring him luck with their runner, Real Saga who comes off a second in the Blue Diamond.
Father and son Bart and Anthony Cummings also line up against each other in the Todman. This time, they have Shamash and Even Flow respectively. Both horses have only moderate form, and maybe the contest between father and son will add some spice to the large hurdle in front of them.
Blue Diamond Winner
The Blue Diamond winner, Reward For Effort, trained by Peter Moody will also line up for his first start in Sydney. It is unusual to see the Blue Diamond winner line up for the Todman, so it raises plenty of queries over this obviously talented 2yo.
Trainer Gai Waterhouse
Gai Waterhouse knows what it takes to win a Todman, having had victories with Meurice and Snowland in recent years. Both horses followed similar paths into the Todman, with Meurice running second in the Kindergarten Stakes, and Snowland winning that race. This weekend sees Gai Waterhouse saddle up a son of Encosta De Lago in Rhythm Of Dance. Rhythm Of Dance won his only start at Newcastle in a 2yo Maiden so might see the class rise as a big test.
Trainer John O’Shea
Written Tycoon came off an open 2yo win when he claimed the Todman in 2005. Trainer John O’Shea had also won the race the previous year with Charge Forward who had run 3rd in the Kindergarten Stakes at his last run. John O’Shea has this year’s Kindergarten winner in Wanted primed for a forward run on the weekend. The son of Fastnet Rock will start among the favourites for the race.
Trainer Tim Martin
Tim Martin also knows what is needed to win the Todman having trained Exceed And Excel to win. Exceed And Excel, by Danehill, had won the Black Opal preceding the Todman. Tim Martin lines up with The Mikado and Zikkman, both grandsons of Danehill. Zikkman is fresh from a third placing behind Delago Bolt in the Black Opal.
Stryker, for Chris Waller looks outclassed on his sixth in the Kindergarten Stakes, even though the form from this race in particular should not be discounted for the Todman. Peter Snowden trains the second placegetter in that race for the strong Darley stable in Purdey. Purdey is by Lonhro and bred by Woodlands Stud who had their last success in the Todman with Lonhro’s sire, Octagonal.
thoroughbred-racing.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_reisling_slipper_trial
