Golden Slipper number eight for Waterhouse

Lady Of Camelot had her Cinderella moment on Saturday to claim the 2024 Golden Slipper for Gai Waterhouse at Rosehill. 

The name Gai Waterhouse is synonymous with the Golden Slipper. Already the trainer with the most wins in the history of the race, she extended her lead with an eighth win in 2024. There are few trainers with such a knack with two-year-olds, learning from her dad who has the second most Golden Slipper wins with six. 

Although Lady Of Camelot was third in the betting, the horse racing bookmakers will be relieved that Storm Boy and Switzerland were turned over in the Golden Slipper. They had been at the head of the futures market for the race for a long time and they would have proved hugely popular with punters around the country. 

Camelot salutes for an 8th Waterhouse Slipper 

Six runners for the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott combination with the majority of them used to putting the pace to the race in their starts so far. Shangri La Express was the one designated to get on with it early, setting fast fractions after being bustled up to lead from barrier three.  
 
Lady Of Camelot managed to get into a tidy tracking position in the early stages but lost her place a touch as they turned into the straight with Blake Shinn then looking for a run as they entered the final 300m, having to switch a couple of times before finding a gap between weakening rivals. 
 
After a bit of bumping, it is a huge credit to the filly that she put her head down and quickened smartly to get to the front and run down Coleman who had hit the front at $41 for Matt Laurie and Kerrin McEvoy. It will be interesting to see if Coleman can back this up or was just in the right place at the right time because of the barrier draw. 

A low barrier proves crucial 

The first four past the line emerged from barriers five, four, two and six. Those who were drawn wider can have this written off and in some cases, can have the run marked up considerably with the fast finishing Manaal and Eneeza the pair that caught the eye with late charges up the inside and centre of the track. 
 
Manaal had the worst of the draw in 17 and while he was initially quick into stride, he was taken right back by Jason Collett, only one behind him as the field passed the 400m mark. Switched to the inside to save ground at the turn, he got a nice run around to finish off well. 
 
Eneeza was just in front of Manaal at the back but Damian Lane made the choice to stay wide and challenged closest to the middle of the track. He finished off the race well and might do better over 1400m next time. 

Storm Boy and Switzerland fluff their lines 

Most of the talk prior to the race was about the unbeaten pair who had won their seven combined starts. Storm Boy missed the start which cost him taking up a more prominent position and with a gap closing on him in the straight, he was forced to challenge closest to the inner rail which perhaps was not ideal for him with the action more middle. 
 
Switzerland was never on the bridle off the strong early fractions. James McDonald didn’t look comfortable at any stage of the contest and while he did manage to pick a few off late on, he lacked the pace to ever get seriously involved. Both will do better over a longer distance in time.  

The quality of action so far this autumn has been exceptional and Saturday was no different. Five Group 1 contests at Rosehill on Saturday produced a shock or two but that surprise element is what makes horse racing great and we are here for it!