Enthaar lives up to hype in Gimcrack Stakes, firms as favourite for Golden Slipper
No Gimcrack Stakes winner has taken the Golden Slipper – but co-trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace might have found the filly to do it after a dazzling debut at Royal Randwick.
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No Gimcrack Stakes winner has taken the Golden Slipper – but Enthaar just might be the first filly to complete the coveted double.
The boom two-year-old filly lived up to her trial form and the pre-race hype with a dominant debut effort in the Group 3 $160,000 Gimcrack Stakes (1000m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Enthaar was in a different race to her rivals. She travelled wide without cover, careered clear in the straight to win by a comfortable three-lengths margin, recording a fast 57.06s despite being eased down inside the final 100m.
Enthaar is the Golden Slipper favourite for a reason! That's a cracking debut from the @cmaherracing-Eustace Filly to take out Race 2 at Randwick! pic.twitter.com/njvOu9Gpwu
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 3, 2020
No Gimcrack winner has trained on to win a Golden Slipper but Enthaar ($1.60 favourite) could create racing history after she toyed with her rivals to win by three lengths from Mallory ($21) with Total Babe ($7) a half length away third.
Champion jockey James McDonald said he “tested” Enthaar halfway down the straight and the filly responded immediately, accelerating clear of her rivals and allowing her rider to take a long look at the infield screen as the filly cruised home.
“I didn’t get anywhere near the bottom of her, she’s very exciting,’’ McDonald said. “It felt as good as it looked to be honest. She’s just a dream to ride.’’
Maher said he was likely to keep Enthaar in training for the $1 million Golden Gift at Rosehill Gardens on November 7.
“I thought maybe the Golden Gift would be a nice race for her,” Maher said. “If she can do the right thing there we can reset for a (Golden) Slipper or something like that.’’
Enthaar was installed as the $17 favourite for the $3.5 million Golden Slipper when TAB Fixed Odds price assessors opened betting on the race on Saturday morning. After the Gimcrack Stakes, she was into $9 favouritism — and the race is still five months away.
McDonald completed the juvenile double when Shaquero led most of the way to win the Group 3 $160,000 Breeders’ Plate (1000m).
J-Mac makes it 3/3 at Randwick, guiding Shaquero home at a nice price for @tabcomau punters! That's another Breeders' Plate for @CWallerRacing ðŸ‘👠pic.twitter.com/GAt7QImNE6
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 3, 2020
Shaquero ($5.50) gave trainer Chris Waller his third Breeders’ Plate in four years with his 1¼-lengths win in 57.42s. The Team Snowden duo of Construct ($4.20) and Astrologer ($9) filled the minor placings.
Waller was unsure if Shaquero will be kept in training for the Golden Gift next month but the Hall of Fame trainer is convinced he has unearthed a talented colt.
“He’s got class written all over him,’’ Waller said. “If you asked me which Group 1 race he was going to win I would say a Doncaster more than a Golden Slipper but who knows he might win one on the way through.’’