Jockey Tommy confident he can cause massive 2025 Golden Slipper upset aboard Quietly Arrogant
Champion jockey Tommy Berry has made a compelling case for Quietly Arrogant to cause the biggest Golden Slipper upset this century at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Champion jockey Tommy Berry has made a compelling case for Quietly Arrogant to cause the biggest Golden Slipper upset this century at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Berry, a three-time winner of the world’s richest two-year-old race, said the results of the final lead-up races won by Skyhook and Memo last weekend had given him growing confidence in Quietly Arrogant.
Skyhook was a brilliant winner of the Pago Pago Stakes and the Peter Snowden-trained Memo, a stablemate of Quietly Arrogant, finished powerfully to win the Magic Night Stakes although she won’t back-up in the Golden Slipper.
Berry pointed out that Quietly Arrogant finished right alongside Skyhook when an unlucky third in the Skyline Stakes last start and his colt had “matched motors” with Memo at trackwork.
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In latest TAB Fixed Odds betting for the $5 million Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, Skyhook has vaulted to $8 third favouritism behind Wodeton at $4.50 and Tempted at $6 but Quietly Arrogant is one of the rank outsiders at $34.
The longest priced Slipper winner this century has been the $26 bet about Phelan Ready (2008) and Kiamichi (2019), with Sweet Embrace (40/1 in 1967) the biggest outsider to win the race.
However, Berry and Snowden are adamant there should not be such a disparity in betting between Quietly Arrogant and Skyhook for Saturday’s showpiece race.
🙌 Rivellino remains unbeaten, and announces himself as a real TAB Golden Slipper contender as he wins the G2 Skyline Stakes for @Leesracing!@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/YTh8hxNtTM
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 1, 2025
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“All the form around Quietly Arrogant stacks up really well,’’ Berry said.
“He was unlucky in the Skyline when he ran a very close third and Skyhook came out of that race and was really good last Saturday.
“I’ve ridden Quietly Arrogant in his last two gallops and this colt is building confidence all the time.
“When I galloped him last Tuesday compared to the Tuesday before, there was a big improvement. He’s getting better all the time.’’
Berry has already won three Golden Slippers on Overreach (2013), Vancouver (2015) and Stay Inside (2021) and is chasing the long-stand race riding record of four wins shared by Hall of Fame jockeys Shane Dye and Ron Quinton.
But the jockey conceded Quietly Arrogant’s winning chances could be determined by the all-important Slipper barrier draw on Tuesday.
“I think the barrier draw is so crucial, this year more so than just about any other year,’’ Berry said.
“The barrier draws have brought some of the favourites undone in the lead up-races. So, if it is doing that in the lead-up races then it is probably going to happen in the Slipper.
“Hopefully, Quietly Arrogant can get a nice draw, inside eight preferably, and have a bit of luck in running because he is in the mix.’’
Quietly Arrogant also has a “strong team” behind him, as Berry pointed out.
“I’ve got a good record in the race, (part-owner) Henry Field buys these colts to win Golden Slippers and Peter Snowden is as good as you get when it comes to training Slipper winners,’’ Berry said.
Field’s Newgate Farm has two Golden Slippers on his mantelpiece with Capitalist (2016) and Stay Inside and Snowden has also won the race twice with Sepoy (2011) and Capitalist (2016).
Last year’s Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside has been retired. Some win this! pic.twitter.com/Eli6gypQV0
— TAB (@tabcomau) March 7, 2022
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Snowden agreed this was a very open Golden Slipper with no dominant two-year-old.
“They are a very even group of two-year-olds,’’ Snowden said. “Nothing has really stood out all season.
“You could have four picks in the Slipper and not get a placegetter. It’s going to be a very competitive race.’’
Snowden confirmed Memo was definitely out of the Golden Slipper despite pulling up well after her barnstorming win last Saturday.
“Memo’s come through the race in great order but she’s had a long campaign and it would be too much to ask of her to back-up in the Slipper,’’ Snowden said. “We will see how she does over the next couple of weeks but she could go to the Percy Sykes Stakes at Randwick.’’
Memo flies down the outside and wins the G3 Magic Night Stakes! ðŸ†@SnowdenRacing1 | @KPMcEvoypic.twitter.com/LjEbsq4dAK
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 15, 2025
GOLDEN SLIPPER BETTING
$5 million | 2YO, 1200m | Rosehill Gardens, Saturday
$4.50 Wodeton
$6 Tempted
$8 Skyhook
$9 Devil Night, Within The Law
$11 Rivellino, Bellazaine
$15 North England
$21 and longer the rest
#Market: TAB Fixed Odds
Originally published as Jockey Tommy confident he can cause massive 2025 Golden Slipper upset aboard Quietly Arrogant
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