Go on, ask yourself the question.
“What just happened?”
“Did that thing just show us that the upcoming Gr 1 Golden Slipper could be won by an as yet raced juvenile?”
Couldn’t be.
No 2YO wins the Slipper having not started by late January. That’s not how the system works.
God, or the universe, or both conspiring, considering God created the damn universe, on this subject say …nope!
But wait, what? Hold on.
This is the year after the worse year ever. So maybe things have changed. Paradigm shifts and racing traditions et al.
Because this horse LOCH LOMOND (Sacred Falls-Dulcine E) today won with it’s head on it’s chest, at first asking, looking like he will go on to much better things in the city.
So the conclusion must been drawn. Today’s win by Loch Lomond on debut in a 4YO Maiden race at Gosford may be the very looking glass we need for the Slipper.
Ok, long bow…but read on. There is merit in this thought.
Loch Lomond went around in a barrier trial where he sat back in 3rd behind the speed. He was trucking. Cantering in fact looking talented.
But, so was the leader.
When Loch Lomond was pulled out to make a little headway, still under double wraps, he was prudently urged along in the subtle way only a jock can do, and he duly accelerated.
One, two, three slaps later down the shoulder and he was in full flight. Trouble was the leader was still high-balling, speeding along.
She is a snip of a lass, with fast legs it seems, but Loch Lomond is clearly talented and determined and he set out after her.
In this moment, what was needed for respectability was exactly what Loch Lomond was showing.
His wisened trainer, Kris Lees, knew before the trial that his 4YO was pretty handy. Probably more than that even – respectable.
But swift legs, daisy-cutting pure speed when governed by an engine which looks as big as she is, rank above courage and respectability.
The tiny 2YO filly in front dropped Loch Lomond like a cheating spouse. His ears almost pricked at the dominance she displayed.
“That horse got donkey-licked in a trial,” said old Mick at the bar moments after today’s race. He had been made redundant a few months ago because of Covid-19.
That gave him time to study the form and the run of this small 2YO filly to trounce Loch Lomond in a trial hadn’t missed his shrewd eye.
He backed Loch Lomond today, because he liked how he stretched his neck out in the trial and because there was enormous stable confidence in him today. Two solid indicators of success.
And he also wagered on the Futures market on the filly who trounced him, to win the 2021 Golden Slipper @ $34 with Sportsbet.
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His remark, said almost aimlessly to himself, grabbed the attention of the guy next to him who thought Mick’s his random comment was an invitation to talk.
“Oh, really. She must be handy,” he said sheepishly and a tad awkwardly. Seeing they did not know one another.
“What’s her name?”
Mick, raised the glass in front of him and took a sip. A long one. Without turning to his new found friend, he said, “I’ve backed her to win the Slipper.
“I thought this bloke trialled good, and when the money poured in for him today to win this maiden, I thought to myself, ‘Good Lord. If the stable rate him, then this filly who beat him pointlessly fair and square must be really smart’.”
For dispensing this theory, the other guy smiled a warm return. He was a bit older than Mick and with almost paternal solicitude, he urged him to spill the beans.
Now Mick looked at him.
“Will you back her?”
“Yes,” he assured. “I will. I think this chat is serendipitous. So yep, as soon as you tell me her name, I’m having 10 bucks on her to win the Golden Slipper.”
Mick didn’t know what serendipitous mean’t, but he liked this bloke. And he knew he was sitting on some information that made him momentarily king of that conversation.
He had no difficulty now in approving the course he had taken himself in backing her.
Somehow, talking his out strategies out loud to this guy made his concept seem far more fanciful and real.
So he smile a crooked grin.
“Will you also buy me a beer if I tell you?” His new mate, now enraptured by the stealth of all this, eagerly, quickly nodded his head.
The proprietor served him obsequiously but did not venture to talk. He didn’t know what was going on anyway.
“Her name is SATIN RIBBONS and that Peter Snowden trains her. Like I said, I got her at $34 so I suggest you get on today.”
So he did. As I did also this afternoon.
Satin Ribbons (Capitalist-Satin Shies) was ridden in the trial by Jason Collett.
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