The $3.5 million Golden Slipper is now firmly on the cards for the Chris Waller-trained Hungry Heart following the daughter of Frankel’s strong win in the Group 2 $200,000 Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Chipping Norton Stakes Day.

Hungry Heart has earned a shot at the Golden Slipper Stakes after an upset win in the 2020 Sweet Embrace Stakes. Photo: Steve Hart.

Just seven fillies faced off in this year’s Sweet Embrace Stakes field, the beautifully-bred winner earning a golden ticket into the Golden Slipper at Rosehill Gardens on March 21.

Waller chases his maiden Golden Slipper win and looks to have a genuine contender in Hungry Heart who broke through with a win second-up after her second on debut last month behind Jabali Ridge down the Flemington straight.

“She’ll be better in six months time, hopefully she is good enough in three weeks’ time,” Waller said post-win on Saturday.

“It is a good position to be in, we know we have a very good horse but I think there’s a lot to work with and her breeding will suggest as a three-year-old it will be when she starts to come into her own.”

Ridden to victory in the Sweet Embrace Stakes by 2014 Golden Slipper winning jockey James McDonald (Mossfun), Hungry Heart was impressive doing it all out wide on her own becoming the 50th stakes winner and third in Australia for gun sire Frankel. 

The Team Snowden-trained favourite Stellar Pauline pushed forward to box seat the fence and take the early lead in the Sweet Embrace, holding the front position until the final 100m.

Coming hard and fast down the outside, Hungry Heart ($9.50) was able to round up the favourite who had no answer late and secure a one-length upset over Stellar Pauline ($2.35) on the line with the beaten top elect having to settle for her fourth second place finish on the trot.

Rounding out the Sweet Embrace Stakes trifecta was $41 roughie Dismissal who snuck up the inside to snare third.

Crystal Lily (2010) was the last filly to complete the Sweet Embrace Stakes – Golden Slipper double, a feat Hungry Heart will now be out to emulate a decade on with plenty of upside.

“We had thoughts of her being a good filly for a while. We thought enough of her to send her to Melbourne thinking maybe she is a Blue Diamond chance but after she ran a good second we thought we’d leave the Blue Diamond and see how she ran today and she could tell us where she wants to go. And likewise see how she pulls up later in the week to see if she goes to a Slipper,” Waller said. 

“She certainly wasn’t wound up to win today and the way she did it was very impressive.

“She’s pretty talented, that’s for sure. Good on the Yulong team for putting everything together and getting her here and it’s a pleasure to be training a horse like her.”

The latest all-in Golden Slipper odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au have now firmed on Hungry Heart from $101 into $14.

Last weekend’s Silver Slipper Stakes winning colt Farnan for six-time Golden Slipper winning trainer Gai Waterhouse remains top of the markets.

A $300,000 buy from the 2019 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sales, Hungry Heart stands to win $2 million for a win in the Golden Slipper Stakes, but McDonald has her tipped as a better chance over further in the Group 1 $1 million Inglis Sires’ (1400m) during ‘The Championships’ in April.

“She will feel better in the Sires. She is very raw but has plenty of ability as she displayed today,” he said. 

“From about the 300m onwards because I knew she had sustained speed. Once I was so close to the eventual leader, it was all over red rover.“

All-in 2020 Inglis Sires’ betting has Hungry Heart in from $34 to $10 to win.

Click here for the updated Golden Slipper Stakes 2020 betting markets courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

2020 Silver Slipper Stakes Results