Steel City, Shinzo clinch Slipper runs

The country’s two biggest stables have clinched 11th-hour Golden Slipper Stakes berths following the impressive stakes wins at Rosehill of Shinzo and Steel City.

The pair were 37th and 38th respectively in order for a Golden Slipper Stakes run, but both sealed their positions in the $5 million race next Saturday with their performances for trainers Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher/Dave Eustace.

Steel City, who was wearing blinkers for the first time, firmed from $21 to $7 with Sportsbet for the Golden Slipper following her win, while Shinzo moved from $26 to $10.

The all-the-way win in the Magic Night Stakes of filly Steel City has given Maher and Eustace their sole Slipper runner after being the unlucky runner last start in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Ladbrokes Park Sandown.

“We’ll see how she pulls up and as you know we’ll have a look at next week (Golden Slipper) and the owners can dare to dream,” an elated Maher said.

The trainer admitted he had thoughts of another luckless run for the filly after the first 200m of the race.

“The first furlong I think she ran a sub 11 (seconds) I thought, ‘we might be going a bit hot here.’ But he pulled her back. I think she was 11.5 (seconds) the next furlong; she looked like she was traveling well,” he said.

Rider Regan Bayliss explained: “If they were going too quick, I would’ve been happy to drop in. But she was there so easy with her ears pricked, so just kept her in a nice rhythm. Gave her a little breather down the circle and she was really good.

“She’s just the ultimate professional. She’s not overly big, but gee she’s got a good motor on her. Blinkers have really switched her on. Didn’t get to see that last start, but she was electric today; bounced out well and was always sitting in their hands and exploded when I asked her.”

Meanwhile, Waller said he felt Shinzo would be able to back-up in seven days.

“He just goes home, he will be on the aqua walker this afternoon and ice, the same tomorrow. Then we’ll just walk across here next Saturday and hopefully do the same,” Waller said.

“His demeanour, it won’t affect him. He is the most chilled-out horse you could imagine.

“He’s got the physique to deal with it because he’s a nice roomy colt. I haven’t punished him to get here, he’s done it all naturally believe it or not.

“They’re the types of horses that are going to run in the race and most important come out of the race as well.” 

“He looks the real deal.”

Jockey James McDonald said Shinzo had something special about him.

“He’s a beautiful horse, there’s no two questions about that,” he said.

“Oozes so much quality; he’s just got three-year-old written all over him. What he’s doing now is just an absolute bonus. Can’t wait until he comes back as a three-year-old because I think we’ll see a fair dinkum horse.”