Chance Bye A Real Slipper Chance

The fairytale continued for Golden Slipper-bound Chance Bye (Snitzel) who forced her way into the field for the world’s richest race for two-year-olds with victory in the Silver Slipper.

Although unbeaten in two starts coming into Saturday’s Group Two feature, her $300,000-plus prizemoney from races restricted to Inglis sales graduates did not count towards a berth in the $3.5 million Golden Slipper on April 3.

But the $15,000 yearling buy made sure of a start when she led all the way in her toughest test yet to run the field off its feet and shoot to the top of Golden Slipper betting.

“She’ll go straight to the Slipper now without another run,” trainer Michael Tubman said.

“We’re in the race, we don’t have to run again.

“She will go home and spend a week in the paddock and then we will just get her ready for the race.”

Kathy O’Hara bounced the $1.75 favourite out of the gates with debutante Military Blonde going with her early.

Although she took a couple of false steps around the turn, Chance Bye quickly gained further momentum when she straightened up and raced clear.

Ambers Waltz gave chase but peaked on her run and finished 1-1/2 lengths astern with Zutara running on late for third another three-quarters of a length away.

“She’s still a bit soft,” O’Hara said.

“She only had one hard gallop between runs.

“But she still had her ears pricked and was doing her own thing in front.

“Nothing worries her, she’s very, very fast and then she loafs in front.

“There’s still plenty of improvement in her.”

That’s an ominous warning for those who finished behind Chance Bye who was elevated to $6 with TAB Sportsbet for the Golden Slipper (1200m) on Easter Saturday.

Gai Waterhouse, trainer of one of the other runners in the field – Zurata – was full of praise for the winner.

“The winner is wonderful.

“She just goes to the front and says `see you later alligator’.”

Before her last start in the Inglis Classic, Tubman was forced to swallow a couple of valium.

He admitted he still harboured a lot of nerves but was getting better.

“I was pretty nervous but it’s just a case of not believing what I’m seeing,” he said.

“She’s just getting better all the time.”

Source: Racing & Sport