26/3/2004 edition

Alinghi's Golden Slipper

After Saturday's races the Lee Freedman trained 2YO filly Alinghi has the Golden Slipper, to be run in two weeks, at her mercy. Many Melbourne youngsters come to Sydney and leave their Melbourne form behind them when they don't handle the reverse Sydney way of going. Not Alinghi last Saturday. She won in a canter. All she now needs for the Golden Slipper is a Good track (she is unproved in rain affected going) and average luck in running.

Fillies have also won the last four Golden Slippers - Belle Du Jour (2000), Ha Ha (2001), Calaway Gal (2002) and Polar Success last year.

John O'Shea might have thought he had a leading contender for the Golden Slipper after his 2YO colt Charge Forward easily defeated the colts by two lengths and ran a time of 1:10.30 for the 1200 metres. But then he saw Alinghi come out the next race and defeat the fillies by two lengths running 1:09.79. That is more than half a second faster time than Charge Forward. Charge Forward's last 600 was in 35.66 seconds, also significantly slower than Alinghi's time of just 34.63 seconds.

In these Group 2 set weight races Alinghi and Charge Forward both carried 55.5kg. When you consider that in the Golden Slipper Alinghi will carry the fillies' handicap which is three kilos less than the colts, then you can see why she has the race at her mercy. She is also not a small filly, being bigger than most of the colts.

There were some other top wins last Saturday.

At Rosehill the Bart Cummings trained 3YO gelding Taikun showed he is a future Group 1 winner. Taikun runs fast times when he wins.

At Moonee Valley Special Harmony showed why she is something special. She won the Moonee Valley Oaks by four lengths, never out of second gear. She looks good enough to beat the males if trainer Lee Freedman decides to take them on in the AJC Derby. Special Harmony, as a 4YO mare this spring, could well win the Caulfield Cup or Cox Plate.

The flying filly Regimental Gal won the Group 1 Weight for Age Australia Stakes in style, fighting off a strong challenge from Our Egyptian Raine. It's worth noting that Legally Bay finished third, just over a length away, and didn't have the best of luck in running.

This edition of Punt to Win:
Alinghi has the Golden Slipper at her mercy
Betting favourites in small fields
Money talks - Rosehill, Moonee Valley betting tips from the track
Handicapping tips - weight and class
Future winners - unlucky horses
Punt to Win 19/3/2004
Punt to Win index

Betting packages

Back Tote Longshots?

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