Expensive two year old filly Dame Giselle has earned herself a spot in next year’s Golden Slipper with her win in the $1m Golden Gift (1100m) at Rosehill today.
Dame Giselle, above, is the winner of the inaugural running of the Golden Gift at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
The winner of the inaugural running of the Golden Gift will receive a winner’s cheque to the value of $580,000 which will guarantee her place in the 2020 Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill during the Sydney Autumn Carnival.
Dame Giselle ($13) was a $500,000 purchase from the 2019 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sales and the I Am Invincible filly took plenty of benefit out of her debut second to See You Soon in the Kirkham Plate for the two year old over 1000m at Randwick two weeks ago.
“She can have a well earned rest now, poke her way back and only run in the races we need to. She might only need one run leading into the Slipper, we’ll let the dust settle and that decision will be made later on,” co-trainer Peter Snowden said.
Dame Giselle was beaten a head at Randwick but with co-trainers Peter and Paul Snowden’s decision to add the winkers plus the step up to 1100m saw a four lengths turn around in the result with the Jean Dubois trained See You Soon ($7) finishing second in the Golden Gift.
“She did a great job, you can’t beat race experience and that’s what she lacked the other day. I thought she would improve off that,” Peter Snowden said.
“We’ve always liked her from day one. From the very first time she showed something and always had that good demeanour which I love about a two-year-old. She was athletic and a great mover, the staff picked her out and the riders picked her out, she gave us a good feel early and I thought she was stiff not to win first-up so it’s good to get this result.
The winner’s stablemate Blazer Trail ($4.40) raced on the pace and showed plenty of fight to hold on for third ahead of Cellsabeel ($21).
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace trained Tanker was sent out as the $3 favourite after winning the Listed $175,000 Inglis Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on October 12 but was never in the firing line and finished in fifth place.
Golden Gift winning jockey Andrew Adkins rode Dame Giselle at her debut at Randwick and produced a faultless ride to steered the filly to victory today.
“He’s only a young bloke, he’s a hard worker and he’s at the stables most mornings to ride work. It’s rewarding for everyone to give him a thrill like that,” Peter Snowden said.
