Millennium may well be Passage to Slipper

A handful of Cairns businessmen have landed a promising horse in Dawn Passage ahead of the $2 million Inglis Millennium (1200m) at Warwick Farm this Saturday. Find out the story behind purchasing the unbeaten colt.

Jockey Blake Shinn rides Dawn Passage to victory in race 1, the Australian Turf Club Handicap during Australia Day At Royal Randwick Race Day at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Saturday, January 26, 2019. (AAP Image/Simon Bullard)

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Cairns-owned Dawn Passage will put his Golden Slipper credentials on the line this Saturday when the unbeaten colt steps up to the $2 million Inglis Millennium (1200m) at Warwick Farm.

Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, the bay colt has 60 per cent of his connections in the Far North, led by Cairns businessman Darren Halpin, Norweld’s Jamie Mcintosh and Nqpetro’s Craig Cygler.

Dawn Passage made a stunning debut at Randwick on Australia Day, scoring by over three lengths, with top jockey Blake Shinn set to be aboard for his second start this Saturday as he tackles the 1200m for the first time.

Halpin has a knack of finding quality horses, following Houtzen’s success over the last few years before he sold the mare.

He is hopeful the Cairns group of owners have found another emerging star.

“We were at a lunch at Derby Day with Adrian Bott and we told him we wanted to buy a horse with him, and he said he had one that went OK,” Halpin said.

“It turns out, at the moment, from his first run, he looks a bit better than OK.

“He ran 0.7 outside Redzel’s track record at Randwick, which is pretty quick, on debut.”

Only horses bought at the 2018 Inglis sale ring are eligible to enter the Millennium and Brazen Beau colt Accession and Dawn Approach juvenile Dawn Passage are the leading contenders to win the inaugural race.

Accession and Dawn Passage dominate early betting for the Inglis Millennium with the ownership group of Dawn Passage set on the $3.5 million Golden Slipper at Rosehill Gardens on March 23.

Jockey Blake Shinn rides Dawn Passage to victory in race 1, the Australian Turf Club Handicap during Australia Day At Royal Randwick Race Day at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Saturday, January 26, 2019. (AAP Image/Simon Bullard)

“The main aim is the Golden Slipper now,” Halpin said.

“He may have another run between Saturday and the Slipper but that is where we are looking.”

Shinn rode Dawn Passage on debut and said Saturday’s race has more significance than the big prizemoney.

“I think the winner of that race could stamp themselves as a Golden Slipper horse,” Shinn said.

Meanwhile, Cairns Jockey Club track manager Ali Glasser is optimistic racing will go ahead at a heavy Cannon Park this Saturday.

“I do not see us having an issue unless we have a big thunderstorm between now and then,” Glasser said.

“Over the last seven days we have 350mm of rain, for the last two weeks we have had 900mm recorded here at the track.

“The sun is out on Wednesday, which is fantastic, we have fantastic grass coverage.

“It will be an honest Heavy 10 for Saturday.”

An eight race card is set for Cannon Park this Saturday with a $900,000 QTIS Jewel regional qualifier to be run.

Originally published as Millennium may well be Passage to Slipper