Brilliant colt Farnan scored an all the way win to give trainer Gai Waterhouse her seventh win in the Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill today.
Farnan, above winning the Todan Staks, went on to win the 2020 Golden Slipper at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
Before today, Waterhouse shared the most number of Golden Slipper winners with her famous father, Tommy Smith, but today she is sharing the win of Farnan with her co-trainer Adrian Bott for the first time.
Farnan went into the Golden Slipper as the $4.80 favourite after some excellent lead up form that included a last start win in the Group 2 $300,000 UNSW Todman Stakes (1200m) at Randwick a fortnight ago.
Winning jockey Hugh Bowman has been aboard the front running Farnan for his last two starts and there was never a thought of changing the tactics, especially after the Not A Single Doubt colt drew a wide barrier.
Bowman had Farnan quickly into stride from barrier twelve and had no issues crossing from the wide gate to find the front in the early stages.
Bowman was able to sit tight until the 300m before he released the brakes and Farnan responded to hold off all the challenges to record a comfortable one and three quarter lengths win.
Magic Millions 2yo Classic winner Away Game ($10) was back to her best and tried hard in the straight to find second spot just ahead of the John Thompson trainer Mamaragan ($16) who was only having his second race start.
Blue Diamond Stakes winner Tagaloa ($5.50) was under pressure before the home turn but still fought hard in the straight to find fourth place.
Champion trainer Gai Waterhouse wasn’t on track to witness her milestone Golden Slipper win and left Adrian Bott to soak up the winning atmosphere.
“What a thrill, I’m very honoured and very humble to do it alongside a legend,” Biott said.
“For her to have six Golden Slippers, and now seven, and to do it with her, and with a colt with such quality, it’s really special for all involved. She makes it easy because she just expects you to win.”
“She’s as confident as ever, maybe I worry a little bit more, but she’s always been confident and it is comforting to have that person alongside you who has been there and done it before so many times. Even down to the tactics, being dominant from that draw, was never a worry.”
“He’s (Farnan) come back a different horse this campaign, he’s been quite special and he proved himself in the lead ups, he was very dominant, and he was dominant again today. “
“He showed that tactical speed that he has always had and was able to control the race. There was more pressure on today, that was the question that had to be asked to him, and he responded well. He was able to quicken away off that and put them away nicely.”
“It’s a very surreal moment, the build up, it’s been a long couple of weeks. I said earlier in the day the Todman felt like it was last season so for it all to fall into place, these Group 1s are hard to win and particularly the Slipper, it’s quite surreal it has all happened.”
Farnan is now the winner of five of his six race starts with his prizemoney earnings soaring to just over $2.5 million.
