Four Arrowfield-sired runners in the Golden Slipper
Arrowfield stallions have supplied a quarter of the 16-horse field in tomorrow’s $3.5 million ATC Golden Slipper G1, a race that has played a significant role in the Stud’s success over the past two decades.
This year Arrowfield’s standard will be carried by the fillies Reemah (by Redoute’s Choice), Fireworks (by Snitzel) & Single Gaze (by Not A Single Doubt) and the colt Odyssey Moon (also by Snitzel).
Odyssey Moon (ex Run to the Moon by Arch) was bred by Arrowfield and sold for just $25,000 at the Inglis Classic Sale to Scone trainer Rod Northam, who re-sold him for $120,000 at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale to James Harron, on behalf of owners Edmund & Belinda Bateman. The Batemans’ green & blue tartan colours have recently been carried to success in the VRC Australian Guineas G1 by Arrowfield Easter graduate, Wandjina.
The Batemans immediately engaged Northam to train Odyssey Moon who promptly rewarded their investment by winning the $250,000 ATC Inglis Nursery (R) LR in December. The colt put himself firmly in the Golden Slipper frame with his next three runs: a fourth in the Inglis Classic (R) LR, followed by a second in the Skyline S. G2 and a third in last Saturday’s Pago Pago S. G3.
Reemah (ex Vormista by Testa Rossa) burst into Golden Slipper contention when she chased home Pride of Dubai in the Blue Diamond S. G1 at only her second start. Bred by John McGrath, Reemah was a $600,000 Inglis Easter purchase by Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell Australasia from the Kitchwin Hills draft.
Like the Batemans, Sheikh Hamdan has also achieved recent Group 1 success with an Arrowfield Easter graduate, champion South African filly Majmu (by Redoute’s Choice). Sheikh Hamdan and his trainers David Hayes & Tom Dabernig are also represented in the Golden Slipper by Haybah.
Redoute’s Choice already has two Golden Slipper winners on his record, Stratum (2005, with the Arrowfield-bred Fashions Afield giving him the quinella) and Arrowfield’s champion filly Miss Finland (2006), while Beneteau was counted an unlucky fifth in 2010.
John & Deborah Camilleri have much to celebrate even before the Golden Slipper, as breeders of the favourite Vancouver and owner-breeders of Fireworks (ex Calvinia by Varick). The Gerald Ryan-trained filly has been in the money in all four of her starts, including her victory in January’s Widden S. G3.
Snitzel, himself unplaced in the 2005 race, has now produced 10 Slipper runners in six years. He is looking to add a precious victory to the placings by Snitzerland in 2012 and Sweet Idea in 2013.
The Middleton family of Redbank North can be equally proud of their Golden Slipper runner Single Gaze (ex Redaluca’s Gaze by Intergaze). Bred by Jamie Middleton with Arthur Mountier, Albert Tory, Wayne Oxford & Mark Cullen, she was a $70,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast buy for Canberra trainer Nick Olive, with the Middletons and Mr Oxford staying in her ownership.
Single Gaze won on debut at Rosehill in November and has posted placings in her next three starts, most recently a second in the Black Opal S. G3 on 8 March.
The chestnut filly is Not A Single Doubt’s fifth Slipper runner in five years with Doubtfilly, 4th in 2012, his best finisher to date.
Arrowfield has two Golden Slippers in its own trophy cabinet, won by home-breds Miss Finland in 2006 and Flying Spur in 1995, and can fairly claim a hand in all five winners sired by the great Danehill, brought to Australia by the Stud in 1989.
Arrowfield also figures as the breeder & vendor of 1994 winner Danzero, and the vendor of Catbird (1999), Belle du Jour (2000) & Forensics (2007). These four horses, as well as Miss Finland & Flying Spur, are all graduates of the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
