Gai Waterhouse declares gun colt North England will win the 2025 Golden Slipper

In 2012, Gai Waterhouse boldly declared Pierro was Sydney’s best two-year-old and that he would win the Golden Slipper. She was right … and she thinks her latest star colt will do the same.

Trainer Gai Waterhouse (inset) won the 2012 Golden Slipper with Pierro (left) and she thinks she can repeat the dose in 2025 with North England (right). Pictures: Getty Images, Michael Klein

Gai Waterhouse has labelled North England as Sydney’s best two-year-old colt and boldly declared he will win the Golden Slipper.

Sound familiar? It should because racing’s first lady has made a similar prediction before – and was proven right.

“Remember when Pierro won the Breeders Plate and I said this colt will win the Golden Slipper?” Waterhouse said.

Ray Thomas's The Daily Telegraph story from 2012 when Gai Waterhouse declared Pierro as that year's Golden Slipper winner.

“Well, Pierro did win the (2012) Golden Slipper and I’m saying the same about North England.

“No one is really talking about him, he’s totally underrated but he’s an outstanding, outstanding colt.

“In his races, he jumps out, puts himself into position, goes through his gears and explodes away. He’s the best colt we have got in Sydney.’’

North England has only been to the races twice for a third in the Breeders Plate before his win in the Golden Gift last spring which qualified him for a start in the $5 million Golden Slipper at Rosehill Gardens on March 22.

It's the Golden Gift winner North England with an impressive run making it back-to-back trial wins! 👏@GaiWaterhouse1pic.twitter.com/6zM907aa6W

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 2, 2025

But in early TAB Fixed Odds betting for the Golden Slipper, North England is on the fourth line of betting at $17 behind dominant favourite Wodeton at $3.50.

Waterhouse, who has trained a record eight Golden Slipper winners with Lady Of Camelot (2024), Farnan (2020), Vancouver (2015), Overreach (2013), Pierro (2012), Sebring (2008), Dance Hero (2004) and Ha Ha (2001), knows better than anyone the type of two-year-old needed to win the world’s richest juvenile race.

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“North England has the profile I like for a Golden Slipper,’’ Waterhouse said.

“He had those two starts in the spring so he has had that early race preparation.

“We’ve given him the time to mature and he’s returned from his break and is trialling really well.’’

North England has won successive barrier trials in recent weeks, including his brilliant effort at Rosehill on Monday when he defeated leading Golden Slipper contenders Bel Merci and Pallaton by more than three lengths.

Several Golden Slipper hopefuls here.

1 - North England (2c Farnan x Our Belisa) for @GaiWaterhouse1. Flying. Has disappeared from @inglis_sales Millennium markets. Firmed in Slipper markets after this.

2 - Bel Merci (2f Extreme Choice x Bel Mer)
3 - Pallaton (2c Wootton… pic.twitter.com/dEH82BXQyl

— Breednet (@BreednetNews) February 2, 2025

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Waterhouse, who trains in partnership with Adrian Bott, said North England would resume in the Group 2 $300,000 Silver Slipper (1100m) at Rosehill on February 22.

North England was a $280,000 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale graduate and is raced by a high profile syndicate including Newgate Farm supremo Henry Field.

There are a number of Inglis Classic Sale graduates clashing in the $2 million Inglis Millennium (1100m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday including three Waterhouse and Bott-trained youngsters in Cobra Club, Crown The King and Bellazaine.

“Cobra Club and Crown The King are raced by Scott Darby and Darby Racing,’’ Waterhouse said.

“Full credit to Darby, they have got three horses (Within The Law) into the Inglis Millennium which shows they are buying the right types of horses.

“Cobra Club is a beautiful colt, very talented, and he would be the pick of our two Darby runners.

“Crown The King did run a nice, enough trial behind North England and he will be finishing off strongly.

“Bellazaine is an improving filly. She is first emergency for the Inglis Millennium and will run there if she gets a start but we also have her in the Lonhro Plate.’’

The @inglis_sales Nursery goes to Within The Law, giving Jason Collett a Randwick double!@BBakerRacing | @Darby_Racing | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/sybM96XEML

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 14, 2024

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Waterhouse was particularly keen on the chances of first starter Anarchist in the Listed $200,000 Lonhro Plate (1000m).

Anarchist, who is by champion sire Exceed And Excel out of Group 1 winner Media Sensation, cost $550,000 at the Inglis Easter Sale last year and has impressed with successive Randwick barrier trial wins in recent weeks.

“I know (syndicator) James Harron and Adrian were thinking seriously about taking Anarchist to Melbourne,’’ Waterhouse said.

“But the decision was made to keep him here and I feel Anarchist is in a very winnable race on Saturday.’’

Originally published as Gai Waterhouse declares gun colt North England will win the 2025 Golden Slipper