Ken Callander: Overreach is the form horse heading in to the Golden Slipper

KEN Callander says Overreach is the fastest and best-credentialled horse in the Golden Slipper at Rosehill today

Overreach

Y ou can throw up negatives like the rain, a slow track and problems with barrier one, but the final overview of the $3.5 million Golden Slipper at Rosehill today is Overreach is the fastest and best-credentialled horse in the race.

Gai Waterhouse's brilliant filly has exploded at her past two starts and, importantly, both wins have been at Rosehill. The majority of the field are unknown in the soggy conditions and Overreach, as a 5 3/4-length winner on a dead to slow track, has as good a claim as any of her rivals to handle it.

I think she will control the race from the jump and, although there will obviously be challengers over the final 200m, I visualise her in front at the post with the colts, Criterion and Sidestep, getting closest. The other two horses in the race I believe represent a bit of value are Charlie Boy , who was ridden totally wrong last start, and Guelph, a filly who has not done much wrong.

Race 1 (11.55)

Betting: $2.60 Lights Of Heaven, $4.20 Lunayir, $6 Hoylonny, $8 Hula Lua

Comment: Lights Of Heaven likes the wet and is a top mare, but she concedes 4kg to all her rivals. Lunayir finished a good second to Julienas over 1900m here last run and his stablemate Hoylonny can improve on his run in that race if ridden a little quieter. Hula Lua comes into this as the winner of his last two in Melbourne and Said Com, Single and Court Connection all have chances.

Bet: 7 Hoylonny

Exotics: Box trifecta 1 Lights Of Heaven, 3 Single, 5 Lunayir, 7 Hoylonny

Race 2 (12.35)

Betting: $4 Fuerza, $6.50 Thump, $9 Hydro, Diva Dee, Aspen

Comment: Hydro and Northern Jewel have the pace to cross, but their runs have been in weaker races than those contested by Fuerza and Thump, who have been running in the Slipper lead-ups. Fuerza is strong and will get a good run. Aspen and Command More went well fighting out a recent Warwick Farm midweek, Diva Dee is dropping in grade and Gracious Prospect is a watch.

Bet: 1 Fuerza

Exotics: Box trifecta 1 Fuerza, 9 Thump, 12 Aspen, 13 Command More

Race 3 (1.15)

Betting: $3.60 Proverb, $4.40 Hippopus, $4.80 Philippi, $8 High ShotComment: Proverb caught the eye in the Randwick Guineas and is ready to go while Hippopus, the winner of two at the midweeks, is a likely big improver. Philippi has always promised a lot and he ran well when second in the Alister Clark at Moonee Valley, while High Shot, also from Melbourne, is stacked with potential. Laser Flash, Twisted Emotions and Air Striker head the rest.

Bet: 2 Proverb

Exotics: Box trifecta 2 Proverb,

8 Hippopus, 9 Twisted Emotions, 15 High Shot

Race 4 (1.55)

Betting: $3 Norzita, $4.60 Habibi,

$5 Dear Demi, $11 You're So Good, $15 Driefontein

Comment: Norzita showed she is in peak form with a great run in the Coolmore Classic, but the 2000m could be a question mark. Dear Demi, the Victoria Oaks winner, is classy, but has to overcome a disappointing last run, while Habibi, the winner of six from seven, won the NZ Derby and will be strong at the finish. Driefontein is honest and You're So Good is up in class.

Bet: 4 Habibi

Exotics: Box trifecta 2 Dear Demi, 3 Norzita, 4 Habibi, 9 Summerbliss

Race 5 (2.35)

Betting: $3.40 Fiveandahalfstar,

$7 Foreteller, Maluckyday, Hathras, $9 Silent Achiever

Comment: Fiveandahalfstar was just caught in the Ranvet (2000m), but has won at 2500m and will be out in front. Maluckyday made up a ton of ground in the Ranvet, is suited by 2400m and has blinkers going onRanvet winner Foreteller is a great hope but can he run 2400m? Silent Achiever and Sangster need to find their best while Hathras is way up in class, but is flying.

Bet: 5 Maluckyday

Exotics: Box trifecta 1 Foreteller, 4 Kelinni, 5 Maluckyday, 12 Fiveandahalfstar

Race 6 (3.15)

Betting: $1.50 More Joyous, $7 Red Tracer, $11 Appearance, $15 Streama

Comment: More Joyous, the winner of 21 from 31 and an excellent first-up second to Pierro, is ideally placed at set weights. Red Tracer, nosed out in the Coolmore, loves the wet and will run well and so will her conqueror Appearance, who is not as well weighted this time. Secret Admirer and Streama are both classy and, if they can find their best, will be right in the finish.

Bet: 1 More Joyous (or no bet)

Exotics: Quinella 1 More Joyous, 2 Secret Admirer

Race 7 (4.00)

Betting: $2.50 Overreach, $8 Sweet Idea, $9 Sidestep, $13 Criterion, Ruud Awakening, Villa Verde

Comment: Overreach has the early speed to be in the box seat from the jump, either leading or sitting on I'm All The Talk or Dothraki. If Overreach gives the same kick she has in her past two, she will be hard to run down. Criterion and Sidestep could lead the charge of those finishing on with Charlie Boy and Guelph also likely to be there. Sweet Idea is no champion, but very honest.

Bet: 11 Overreach

Exotics: Box trifecta 1 Criterion, 4 Sidestep, 8 Charlie Boy, 11 Overreach, 15 Guelph

Race 8 (4.45)

Betting: $1.50 Pierro, $7 Rebel Dane, $9 Shoot Out, $17 Danleigh, Solzhenitsyn

Comment: Pierro looked great in two recent wins and is 10 out of 10 in Sydney. He only just beat Rebel Dane (two runs back) in the Hobartville, but looks to have improved. That could have been Rebel Dane's peak. Shoot Out won the Chipping Norton first-up and is a classy WFA galloper, while old marvel Danleigh can't be ignored and Solzhenitsyn is on the improve.

Bet: 11 Pierro

Exotics: Quinella 11 Pierro, 12 Rebel Dane

Race 9 (5.20)

Betting: $4.40 Aeronautical, $6 Tiger Tees, $7 Skytrain, See The World, $9 Senta De Noche, Lady's Angel

Comment: Senta De Noche (fifth Emergency) has a great hope, but is unlikely to get a run. Aeronautical looks under the odds. His past few runs are good, but he is not consistent and doesn't like it wet. Tiger Tees, back in grade, should get a good run and his stablemate, See The World, will be rattling home. Skytrain is well placed and his stablemate Rarefied is a query.Bet: 5 Tiger Tees

Exotics: Quinella 5 Tiger Tees,

9 See The World