Six Golden Slipper runners by Arrowfield sires

Four stallions, four stables, six runners is the story of Arrowfield’s representation in Saturday’s $3.5 million ATC Golden Slipper G1.

Redoute’s Choice , already sire of Slipper winners Stratum (2005) and Miss Finland (2006) has the filly No Looking Back from the Gai Waterhouse stable and the John O’Shea-trained colt Shelford in this year’s field. Both have black type form: No Looking Back as the Blue Diamond G1 and Magic Millions Classic (R) LR runner-up, Shelford as a placegetter in the Canonbury S. LR and Todman S. G2.

Pictured: Bellerive Stud graduate and Golden Slipper contender Snitzerland. (PHOTO: Sportpix)

Snitzel has thrown Slipper runners in each of his first three crops: Chance Bye in 2010, Hot Snitzel, Salade & Saramenha in 2011 and this year it’s the turn of the Gerald Ryan-trained pair Amorino and Snitzerland, purchased respectively from last year’s Arrowfield Magic Millions and Bellerive Melbourne Premier Sale drafts. Amorino won his first two starts in October and December, and was fourth in the Todman Stakes, while Snitzerland has progressed rapidly from her debut second placing in Flemington stakes company last November to success at Group 3 level last month.

Snitzerland heads an outstanding group of 7 stakes-performed juveniles this season by Snitzel who currently holds third positioon on the Australian 2YO Sires’ table.

Charge Forward ‘s daughter Cavalry Rose completes Gerald Ryan’s trio of Golden Sipper contenders. She added a second in last weekend’s Magic Night S. G2 to her Rosehill wins in January and February, and is Charge Forward’s third Slipper runner after Headway, second in 2009, and Solar Charged, sixth in 2010.

The final member of Arrowfield’s 2012 Golden Slipper Challenge is Doubtfilly, by Not A Single Doubt , previously represented by Karuta Queen (2011). Trained by leading Mackay trainer Stuart Kendrick, Doubtfilly has won four of her six starts in Queensland and impressed with a solid fourth in the Magic Night S. G2 last Saturday.

A fifth Arrowfield sire, Flying Spur appears as the damsire of three Golden Slipper starters: Raceway, Ashokan and Later Gator. It is surely no co-incidence that all three are by More Than Ready who combined with Flying Spur’s daughter Purespeed to produce Slipper winner Sebring in 2008 – the year that this season’s 2YOs were conceived.