Vancouver Wins Golden Slipper, Stays Unbeaten
Description:
Undefeated Vancouver overcame the difficult outside post position in the Golden Slipper Stakes (Aus-I) and led stablemate English in a one-two finish for trainer Gai Waterhouse March 21 at Rosehill Gardens.
Perfectly placed behind the leaders and three off the rail after breaking from post 16, Vancouver snatched the lead entering the stretch as previously unbeaten filly English went with him. English challenged strongly down the lane, but Vancouver was too strong in a lunge at the finish line and tallied a three-quarter-length triumph in the AUS$3.5 million (US$2,723,175) race for 2-year-olds.
The victory under Tommy Berry, achieved in 1:09.74 for the 1,200 meters (about six furlongs) on good turf, keeps the colt's record perfect in four career starts. The progressive son of Darley's Central Kentucky-based Medaglia d'Oro , Vancouver won the Canonbury Stakes (Aus-III) Jan. 31 and the Todman Stakes (Aus-II) March 7 in his two previous starts before claiming one of the world's richest juvenile races for an ownership group as the hot favorite.
Waterhouse enjoyed a sixth Golden Slipper triumph, equaling the record held by her father, the late Tommy Smith. Vancouver joins Waterhouse-trained winners Ha Ha (2001), Dance Hero (2004), Sebring (2008), Pierro (2012), and Overreach (2013).
Lake Geneva, a Coolmore filly seeking a breakthrough stakes win after a creditable third to Pride Of Dubai in the William Hill Blue Diamond Stakes (Aus-I) Feb. 28, was a close third Saturday.
Vancouver, bred in Australia by John Camilleri's Fairway Thoroughbreds, was produced by the stakes-placed Danehill mare Skates, who also is the dam of group I winner Juste Momente, by Giant's Causeway , and stakes winner Captain Coltish, by Fusaichi Pegasus . He was a $185,000 ($165,168) purchase by Waterhouse and bloodstock agent James Harron at the 2014 Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling sale, with Coolmore the consigning agent.