Ben Melham had only to sit and steer aboard She Will Reign, who jumped and ran
like the little professional she is.If Gary Portelli can keep her in that frame of mind, she's the horse to beat come Slipper Day on March 18, but before we all get too carried away… this was an 808 metre trial against six modest fillies that have never won a race.
The Golden Slipper is over 1200 metres against the best colts and fillies in the country.
There's a quantum leap to be made between what we have seen from her so far in races – a maiden win over 1000 metres at Kembla and a sales restricted win in the $500,000 Inglis Nursery over 1000 metres - and what is required to win the Slipper.
That said, she's a cracker and after finishing second with Yankee Rose last year, Darby Racing will be hoping she can go one better.
One stud that will be cheering her on is Blue Gum Farm in Victoria who have taken over her sire Manhattan Rain after he was moved aside by Arrowfield Stud to make way for new overseas sire talent in Maurice (Jpn) and Shalaa (IRE).
Running the next quickest time out of the juvenile heats was the Gai Waterhouse
and Adrian Bott trained Your Song colt French Tune, who skipped clear to win by
more than two lengths in 46.37 seconds.A $140,000 Magic Millions purchase for Domeland from the Newhaven Park draft, French Tune has had three trials now and won all of them so looks ready to go to the races.
He is from NZ bred Faltaat(USA) mare De Puivert, a sibling to stakes-winners Pretty Cury and Rio Fortune from Group III winner Bahira.
Darby Racing had a second two year-old trial winner when the Gabrielle Englebrecht trained Hinchinbrook filly Mileage cruised home to win by four lengths.
She was having her second trial and still looked a little green up the straight, although when shaken up by Kathy O'Hara knuckled down to the task at hand.
A $45,000 Inglis Classic purchase from the Fairview Park Stud draft, Mileage is a half-sister to six winners from good producing Zeditave mare Wreckage, who comes from the family of Group Ii winner and $1.5 million earner Rain Affair.
Click here for all the trial results.
