Golden Slipper second favourite Barber on track for autumn return
The Golden Slipper quest of unbeaten colt Barber remains on track after the Godolphin talent produced a stylish trial win at Hawkesbury on Tuesday morning.
In a week where Slipper favourite King’s Gambit will make his return in the Group 3 Canonbury Stakes, Godolphin’s current top seed and the Slipper second favourite enjoyed an ideal tune-up for the autumn.
Star jockey James McDonald kept the James Cummings-trained Barber under a strong hold throughout his 800m heat where he edged out stablemate Shaken by a half length with John Sargent’s Llewellyn in third.
The Exceed And Excel colt stopped the clock in 47.35sec (last 600m in 33.79sec).
Barber currently sits on the second line of TAB betting for the Golden Slipper with Don Corleone at $9 with the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained King’s Gambit at $5.
Barber’s stablemate Shaken, a daughter of I Am Invincible out of 2014 Slipper runner-up Earthquake, is a $201 outsider.
There had been some chance that Barber would clash with King’s Gambit in the Canonbury Stakes but Godolphin have elected to bid their time.
Barber has already got enough prizemoney to make the Golden Slipper field after winning the Kirkham Plate on debut before claiming the $1m Golden Gift in November.
Meanwhile, Godolphin stablemate Golden Mile is set to face increased competition in Saturday‘s Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill after 14 late nominations were made for the $250,000 feature.
A paltry four nominations were taken for the race on Monday before they were extended until Tuesday morning in a bid to enhance the strength of the feature field.
Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes winner Perfect Thought, talented Group 2 winning colt Sejardan as well as last-start victors Mariamia and On The Lead were among the late noms.
Golden Mile had been the $1.90 favourite with TAB on Monday with multiple Group 1 winner Forbidden Love ($2.20) and emerging sprinter Kote ($3.50).
Takissacod ($51) was the other contender among the original four nominated.
