The world’s richest handicap race, the 2012 Melbourne Cup, may be running at Flemington today but it is the world’s richest juveniles’ clash that the connections of Villa Verde are eyeing after the filly retained her undefeated status with a nice Melbourne Cup Day win.
Villa Verde is 2013 Golden Slipper bound after their Melbourne Cup Day win
The Shaun Dwyer-trained Not A Single Doubt two-year-old grey debuted on Thousand Guineas Day when she scored a nice one and a quarter length victory in the Listed Inglis Debutants Stakes (1000m).
She was back in the spotlight today when overcoming barrier 13 of 14 to win the first at Flemington, the $120,000 Listed 7News Plate (1000m).
Saluting as the $3.50 favourite Villa Verde was even more impressive second-up than on debut as she easily accounted for her rivals putting two and three quarter lengths on Purrific ($11) to take out the 7News Plate.
“She was out there with no cover but she just does everything right,” Dwyer said.
“She’s just so cool and so composed.”
Obviously boasting plenty of potential connections are already talking about the Golden Slipper 2013 for Villa Verde who was ridden by Michael Rodd for both of her turf triumphs.
One of the highlights of the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival, the next edition of the $3.5 million Group 1 AAMI Golden Slipper (1200m) is scheduled to run at Rosehill Gardens on April 6, 2013, and will be Dwyers’ main focus with Villa Verde when she returns.
“Not many horses go Blue Diamond – Golden Slipper and the one we want is the Golden Slipper so that’s where we’ll be going,” Dwyer said.
“She’ll go to the paddock definitely (now).
“There’s two holy grails, the Melbourne Cup and the Golden Slipper.
“I come down here looking for a Melbourne Cup three years ago but I haven’t found the right horse.
“We might have the right horse to at least have a runner in the Slipper.”
Dwyer has some experience with a star juvenile have prepared Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Regimental Gal for her victory in the Gold Coast feature back in 2003.
Regimental Gal went on to win four Group races including the 2004 Lightning Stakes – Australia Stakes Group 1 double and Dwyer believes there are some nice comparisons to be made between her and Villa Verde.
“It’s a long time since I had a horse this good,” he said.
“She’s (Villa Verde’s) what we’re all looking for.
“She just does everything right. She’s just like one of those talented sportsman, [Roger] Federer, she’s just so cool, so composed in herself and it makes it easy to train her.”
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