Early favourite Tassort has been given a steady build up in his preparation for the 2019 Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on March 23.
Trainer James Cummings is aiming to barrier trial Tassort in a fortnight with the intention of setting him for a Golden Slipper lead up run in the Group 2 $250,000 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on February 23.
“Probably a fortnight from a trial,” Cummings told Sky Sports Radio Racing HQ.
“I am eyeing off running the horse on the 23rd February so I am in no real rush with him and he just starting to show me signs now that he is ready have his work ramped up, but we are just taking it pretty steady with him at this stage still.”
“We have been so pleased with the way he has come back physically so that is something that we are really paying close attention to.”
Tassort scored an impressive five and a quarter lengths win on debut in the $150,000 Golden Gift (1100m) at Rosehill on November 24 and was immediately installed as the $5 Golden Slipper favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au.
Cummings sent Tassort straight to the paddock after his debut win and has been happy with his progress since returning to the stables.
Cummings holds a strong hand in Golden Slipper betting with his Magic Millions 2yo Classic winner Exhilarates on the second line of betting at $10.
Exhilarates is the winner of two of her five race starts and raced in Golden Slipper calculation with a dominant win in the $2m The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 12.
The Chris Waller trained Accession was quickly elevated up the Golden Slipper market order from $51 to $15 after scoring a brilliant win last Saturday at Rosehill in the $125,000 Countdown To Golden Slipper Sprint (1100m).
Early betting for the 2019 Golden Slipper at Ladbrokes.com.au: $5 Tassort, $10 Exhilarates, $15 Accession, Catch Me, Time To Reign, $16 Anaheed, $17 Dubious, $18 Mclaren, $21 Brooklyn Hustle, Just Zerene, Unite And Conquer, $26 Cardiff, Covert Ops, Espaaniyah, Hightail, Microphone, Steal The Kisses, Yes Yes Yes, $31 Aquitaine, Rome, Spaceboy, Vinicunca, $34 or better the rest.