Racing: Stay Inside takes Pierro Plate at Randwick

Stay Inside has shown form for a Golden Slipper slot in a Sydney win at Randwick.

James McDonald on Stay Inside, left, wins race 2, the Silverdale Farm Pierro Plate, at Royal Randwick Racecourse on Saturday. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

In trainer Michael Freedman’s words, Stay Inside needed to win to “keep the dream alive” at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Stay Inside did more than that – he made a real Golden Slipper statement with a ridiculously easy win in the $150,000 Pierro Plate (1100m).

Sydney’s reigning champion jockey James McDonald seemed to be shaking his head in disbelief as he sat up on an arrogant Stay Inside at the 100m mark with the race already safely in their keeping.

McDonald has ridden some of this season’s best juveniles including Golden Slipper favourite Enthaar and Magic Millions winner Shaquero and he said Stay Inside is worthy of comparison.

“Stay Inside is close to the top there,’’ McDonald said.

“I just love his attitude. He takes everything in his stride, the ultimate professional. He’ll get to a Slipper whether it is wet or dry and be very hard to beat.

“I just want to have another ride on him.’’

Freedman, who trains in partnership with his brother, Richard, said Stay Inside’s emphatic win showed he was worthy of being given a chance to qualify for the $3.5 million Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 20.

“He’s exciting, it was a pretty handy win I thought,” Freedman said.

Stay Inside ($2.10 favourite) was in a different race to his chasing rivals, cruising over the line four lengths clear of Vianello ($10) with Giannis ($16) three-quarters of a length away third.

The Daily Telegraph

FULL report is here