The verdict: Hanseatic ticks plenty of boxes for Golden Slipper

Despite not racing, Hanseatic drifted in betting for the Golden Slipper after the weekend’s dress rehearsals, but he can still be the one to beat in the world’s richest two-year-olds’ race.

Hanseatic has eased the betting for the Golden Slipper. Picture: AAP

• Hero on track for triple crown glory
• Bivouac continues Bossy’s dream run

Despite not racing, Hanseatic drifted in betting for the Golden Slipper after Saturday’s dress rehearsals, but he can still be the one to beat in the world’s richest two-year-olds’ race.

Events from Saturday showed Blue Diamond day form can be easily forgiven after the huge discussion about the way the Caulfield track played that day.

Bivouac failed to make an impression in the Oakleigh Plate on Diamond day, but turned that form on its head when totally dominating the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.

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Punters should be wary of Hanseatic in the Golden Slipper. Picture: AAP

Hanseatic was the benchmark two-year-old of the season going into the Blue Diamond and he hardly disgraced himself in running second.

He profiles similarly to Sepoy, having won the two Diamond lead-ups (admittedly Sepoy did win the Diamond too), before being beaten in their last run before the Slipper.

He is only $8 third pick with Ladbrokes, but expect to see the real Hanseatic turn up on Slipper day and prove himself the premier two-year-old.

Farnan will try to join Belle Du Jour (2000) and Ha Ha (2001) as the only beaten Magic Millions contestants to win the Golden Slipper.

The Gai Waterhouse-Adrian Bott runner cemented his place at the top of the Ladbrokes market ($4.60) with his Todman win over Tagaloa ($7.50) yesterday, but there’s no precedent for a horse finishing down the track at the Gold Coast to win the Slipper.

Belle Du Jour was second in her year and Ha Ha fourth.

Dance Hero, Phelan Ready and Capitalist are the only horses to do the double.

The Todman is being assessed as superior form by bookmakers, with Ladbrokes having yesterday’s tough Reisling winner Dame Giselle at $10 and runner-up See You Soon $12. Minhaaj firmed to $11 after bolting in at Flemington.

Wow! How's that Farnan?!

What a win in the Todman Stakes @royalrandwick from the @GaiWaterhouse1 - Bott colt with @HugeBowman up - bring on the #GoldenSlipper 💪 pic.twitter.com/Qu7ylAGIIq

— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 7, 2020

MEDIA RIGHTS PIE FOR SKY

Tabcorp’s media arm SKY is firming as favourite to secure Queensland racing’s media rights.

Negotiations continued at pace last week with both SKY and Racing.com representatives in Queensland meeting with the relevant stakeholders. A deal needs to be signed before June 30 but could happen sooner.

WAVE OF LOVE FOR LES

Les Ross said he had been embarrassed by the amount of support he has received since revealing he needs to have prostate surgery.

“The prognosis is very good. To be honest, it was more about saying to other people that you should get it checked,” Ross said. The Eagle Farm trainer was super confident Defence Missile would break his run of outs yesterday and the four-year-old landed some good bets.

“I knew he was a good thing on Wednesday when (jockey manager) Glen Courtney rang trying to get the ride for Robbie Fradd,” Ross said. “Glen said he was a good thing in the race with 54kg and I told him that means he will be an even better thing with 51kg.”

Sure enough, Maddy Wishart used her 3kg claim to advantage to run down Boomtown Lass.

Trainer Les Ross has been overwhelmed by the support he has received after confirming he needs prostate surgery. Picture: Glenn Hunt

KINGDOM EARNS SPELL

Les Kelly Jr said it was likely The Kingdom would be given a break and then be aimed at some of the later winter middle-distance events after making it four on end on Saturday. Kelly said races like the Tattersall’s Cup might come under consideration when The Kingdom returns. Meanwhile, Ballistic Boy earned a trip to Sydney with his tough win in the last. “We will probably go down now and aim at some of the lesser races,” trainer Chris Anderson said.

ONE FOR THE GOOD GUYS

Brian and Daniel Guy continued their solid record with tried horses when Fortification won at just his second run for the stable. Daniel Guy said a gelding operation had turned the horse around. “He’s done a good job with the 59kg and I think you will find he’s better again when we can get him into a race down in the weights,” Guy said.

HOW THE FAVS FARED AT EAGLE FARM

RACE 1

THE KINGDOM, Adin Thompson, $1.50 (Won): “I would have preferred to draw wider, so I just kept him one off the fence, because I knew he had a bigger sprint than everyone else.”

RACE 2

INGEAR, Matt McGillivray, $2.25 (3rd): I was trying to get her away from the fence, but she wanted to hang in up the straight.”

RACE 3

REDOUTE’S IMAGE, Larry Cassidy, $2.60 (3rd):”She tries hard, but she’s just lacking that bit of strength at the moment.”

BELLISSIMI AMICI, Robbie Fradd, $4.60 (2nd): “She’s not the biggest filly and I think going up 1.5kg was a telling point.”

RACE 4

RUUCA, Robbie Fradd, $1.50 (4th): “I had a lovely run and thought he was very disappointing.”

Quality Seeker scored an impressive win at Eagle Farm. Picture: AAP

RACE 5

SLOW HANDS, Mark Du Plessis, $3 (2nd): “ I think he’s more than ready for 2000m and beyond now.”

PLITVICE, Adin Thompson, $3.30 (Won): “Given the run I thought we were a sitting duck but that’s a really brave win.”

RACE 6

QUALITY SEEKER, Louise Day, $2.80 (Won): “I gave him an inch of rein at the 800m and off he went.”

RACE 7

EPIC GIRL, Adin Thompson, $3.50 (4th): “The winner wanted to race me early, but my instructions were to lead. She wanted to lay out in the straight and the run was just fair.”

RACE 8

EMERALD KINGDOM, Robbie Fradd, $1.45 (Won): “You get to the 450m and then roll. He’s got such a long stride. He’s definitely up to better races now.”

RACE 9

STAR OF MICHELIN, Matt McGillivray, $2.60 (4th): He couldn’t go early and I think he wants a mile now. I just had to ride for luck and there was nowhere to go. He was very stiff.”