Modoc An Each-Way Chance In Golden Slipper 2014

Modoc received the final spot in the Golden Slipper 2014 field and trainer Paul Perry believes that the gelding is an genuine each-way chance in the Group 1 event at Rosehill Gardens this weekend.

Blake Shinn will be chasing another feature race win when he rides Modoc in the 2014 Golden Slipper this weekend.

Blake Shinn will be chasing another feature race win when he rides Modoc in the 2014 Golden Slipper this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart

Modoc started his racing career with two impressive wins and, apart from a flat performance in the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 1, has raced well at Group level; finishing third in the Group 2 Skyline Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on March 15 and fourth in the Group 2 Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 29.

Perry told RSN this morning that he has been happy with the lead-up form of Modoc and is confident that the son of Haradasun will run a good race in the 2014 Golden Slipper tomorrow.

“He has done nothing wrong,” Perry said.

“All his runs have been fair and consistent.

“He raced last Saturday and he is a big doing sort of horse and hasn’t left an oat since.

“He has come through it terrific and he is a good each way chance.

“He has drawn well, but he probably doesn’t have the speed to use it up that much.

“He will run a decent race all the same.”

The Rosehill Gardens track is currently rated a slow six, but there is a chance that more rain will fall in the next 24 hours and the track could be downgraded before the running of the Golden Slipper.

Modoc failed to fire on a wet track in the Silver Slipper Stakes, but appeared to handle the heavy going in the Pago Pago Stakes and Perry said that he would not be overly concerned if the Golden Slipper was run on a wet track.

“On top on the ground he would be way better, but two runs back he raced on the slow track and it was just a run and he didn’t handle it,” Perry said.

“In the Pago Pago last week he got through it no problem and I don’t think it would worry me if it was rain affected.

Blake Shinn will ride and he is keen to win everything  and it is a big plus.”

Perry is still an outside chance of having two runners in the 2014 Golden Slipper field; with Scratch Me Lucky the first emergency for the Group 1 event.

The veteran trainer said that he would like to see Scratch Me Lucky get a run in the Golden Slipper, but believes that the Snitzel colt will perform well in the Group 3 The Schweppervescence (1400m) if there are no scratchings from the $3.5 million event.

“All the connections would love to have a winner in the Slipper and it would be great for them, but if not he will run in the first race there and he looks a good chance,” Perry said.

“He will run a race and he is a very genuine horse.”

Modoc is currently available at 2014 Golden Slipper odds of $126, while Scratch Me Lucky is priced at $201 to win the Golden Slipper and $6 to take out The Schweppervescence.

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.