Opal And Slipper Options For Sydney Filly
Story By Chris Scholtz
Wednesday, 20 February 2008:  | | Graham Begg |
Begg has Special Mention entered for Canberra's $200,000 Black Opal Stakes (1200m) and the $200,000 Magic Millions Slipper (1000m) at Wyong.
Begg is happy to wait for the barrier draws for both races and then assess the likely track conditions before reaching a decision.
"We'll just weigh everything up, look at the barriers and the opposition,” Begg said.
"The Black Opal is a Listed race but the Wyong Slipper will probably be a weaker race for equal prizemoney.”
Special Mention, a $190,000 Magic Millions yearling, won on debut at Newcastle before running fifth to Delta Girl at Randwick last Saturday.
The Black Opal is dominated by Canberra's unbeaten star filly De Lightning Ridge while the impressive Gai Waterhouse filly She's Meaner heads the entry list for the Wyong Slipper.
The Wyong Slipper attracted an extra four nominations after the deadline was extended with a final list of 12 entries.
The additional entries are She's Meaner's unraced stablemate Amelia's Dream 9Gai Waterhouse), Stratocruiser (Graeme Rogerson), city placed Coniston Bluebird (Bede Murray) and Geared Up (Joe Pride).
Rogerson, who has trained two of the first three Wyong Slipper winners, now has three entries led by the impressive Canterbury winner Bentley Man.
There are 13 entries for the Black Opal but only three – Special Mention, Typhoon Fury and Marsmagic – come from the metropolitan area.
South African jockey Jeff Lloyd will make his Canberra debut with the mount on Typhoon Fury for Warwick farm trainer Gary Portelli.
Portelli is seeking his third Black Opal win after previous victories with Coral Salute and Down The Wicket.
Begg has booked Tim Clark to ride Special Mention if she runs in the Black Opal.
|
