Defcon’s Golden Slipper place to be decided after gallop

Black Opal Stakes winner Defcon’s place in the Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday will be decided after he gallops at Randwick on Tuesday morning.

Defcon, above, green colours running second to Astern in the Silver Slipper Stakes, is vying for a Golden Slipper start. Photo by Steve Hart.

Co-trainers Peter and Paul Snowden will gallop Defcon along with stablemate and one time Golden Slipper favourite Capitalist to determine if one or both colts line up in the world’s richest two year old race on Saturday.

“Capitalist is definitely running but I’ll wait and see until after Defcon gallops,” Peter Snowden said.

Defcon laid claims for a Golden Slipper start with a last to first win in the Group 3 $275,000 Mercedes-Benz Canberra Black Opal Stakes (1200m) at Canberra on March 6.

“He just had a bit on them,” Peter Snowden said.

“He travelled well and produced a sterling turn of foot. He has always had that great acceleration; it was just a matter of timing it right.

“A great turn of foot will take them a long way and win them races.”

Defcon’s Black Opal Stakes win was his third appearance at the races following a second to Tessera in the Group 3 $150,000 Canonbury Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on January 30 followed by a another second to Astern in the Group 2 $250,000 UVEX Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on February 20.

Defcon is currently listed as a $17 chance for the Golden Slipper with Ladbrokes.com.au while Capitalist has drifted from his early quote of $3.60 at the top of the market order to be currently a $10 chance.

Capitalist’s slide in the betting was initiated after he suffered his first defeat when second to all the way winner Kiss And Make Up in the Group 2 $300,000 UNSW Todman Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on March 5.

It was reported after the Todman Stakes that the Written Tycoon colt has pulled up slightly lame but the Snowden Racing Team have confirmed that Capitalist is in fine condition heading towards Saturday’s Golden Slipper.

“He is well, everything is going good with him,” Snowden said.

Before his Todman Stakes defeat, Capitalist was unbeaten from three runs with wins in the Listed $150,000 Newgate Breeders’ Plate (1000m) at Randwick on October 3, in the $200,000 Wyong Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1100m) at Wyong on December 17 and in the $2m Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 9.

The final field for the 2016 Golden Slipper will be declared at 9am on Tuesday, March 15, with the barrier draw to be conducted at 11am at a special function in the Grand Pavilion at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse.

Blue Diamond Stakes winner Extreme Choice heads the Golden Slipper market at $2.90 ahead of his stablemate Flying Artie at $6 and the John O’Shea trained Astern at $7.50.

Latest Golden Slipper market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.90 Extreme Choice, $6 Flying Artie, $7.50 Astern, $10 Kiss And Make Up,  Capitalist, $15 Good Standing, $17 Calliope, Defcon, Scarlet Rain, Yankee Rose, $26 Honesty Prevails, $34 Telperion, $41 Tessera, $51 French Fern, $67 Star Turn, $81 Detective, $101 Sweet Sherry, $201 Quick Feet.