Arrowfield dominates Golden Slipper entries

Arrowfield already has a significant place in Golden Slipper history, thank to eight winners in the past 22 years.

They fall neatly into four categories: Arrowfield graduate Danzero (1994) & Catbird (1999), both by Danehill and both conceived when the supersire was based at Arrowfield; the Arrowfield-bred and -raced colt Flying Spur (by Danehill; 1995) & champion filly Miss Finland (by Redoute’s Choice; 2006); sale graduates Belle du Jour (by Dehere; 2000) & Forensics (by Flying Spur; 2007); and the Arrowfield-sired pair Dance Hero (by Danzero; 2004) & Stratum (by Redoute’s Choice; 2005).

The Stud’s chance of extending that record in 2016 looks very strong indeed, with 16 Arrowfield-sired 2YOs (39%) of the the top 41 horses in the current Order of Entry for this year’s $3.5 million Slipper, the 60th running of the race.

Champion sire Redoute’s Choice and his sons Snitzel & Not A Single Doubt each have three horses on the list. Arrowfield Magic Millions graduate Honesty Prevails, winner of last weekend’s ATC Widden S. G3 on debut, heads Team Redoute’s Choice in 8th-equal position with $90,000 prizemoney.  Debut winners Thyme For Roses (36th equal) and Zamzam (38th) will need to increase their earnings sharply to improve their chance of making the final field, but both look capable of doing so.

Snitzel, currently the leading sire of 2YO winners, is represented by Arrowfield Magic Millions graduates Detective (21st) & Slumber Party (22nd), both stakes-placed, and the promising Queensland colt Itz Alrite (41st).

Not A Single Doubt’s trio of contenders, based in Sydney, Brisbane & Melbourne, are Faraway Town (13th), Punishing (20th) & the Group-placed filly Emphatically (25th).

Third-crop sire All American is making a real splash with his juveniles this season and two of them remain in Slipper contention. The unbeaten Yankee Rose’s $137,200 prizemoney gives her third spot in the entry order, while stakes-placed winner Rampage is 23rd.

Also unbeaten is the Manhattan Rain filly Scarlet Rain, another purchase from Arrowfield’s 2015 Magic Millions draft. She’s 6th on the order with $97,500 prizemoney.

Smart Missile’s daughter Smart Amelia made a good impression with her debut Group 3 second to Honesty Prevails last Saturday. She’s 29th equal on the Golden Slipper list, just ahead of the two Beneteau fillies Prompt Response (31st) and Twist Tops (33rd), and Gio Ponti’s two-time stakes placegetter Pearl Congenial (39th equal).