Saturday week’s Group 1 $3.5 million Golden Slipper (1200m) is now on the agenda for the Godolphin-raced filly Thermosphere following her win upset win in the 2020 Magic Night Stakes on Coolmore Classic Day.

Thermosphere has raced her way into the 2020 Golden Slipper field with an upset win in the Magic Night Stakes. Photo: Steve Hart.

A return to the Rosehill track on successive Saturdays looks on the cards for the James Cummings-trained daughter of Exosphere as she looks to complete the Group 3 $175,000 Magic Night Stakes – Golden Slipper double for the Royal Blue army for the second year on the trot following the success of Kiamichi (2019) last Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.

Thermosphere was the underrated filly in the Magic Night Stakes markets going into the Slipper lead-up as a $20 outsider as the punters rallied for Team Snowden’s Sweet Embrace Stakes runner-up Stellar Pauline ($3).

The Soft-rated Rosehill track and rainy conditions suited Thermosphere however as she made it two wins on the trot coming off a 1300m victory on a Heavy (9) at Newcastle a fortnight ago.

In her Black-Type debut, the proven wet tracker was ridden by James McDonald for the first time and he gave her a perfectly timed ride that allowed her to hold off Time Is Precious ($8.50) for a quarter-length win.

Rounding out the Magic Night Stakes trifecta in a close third was the promising Jemss ($91) for David Payne, while the beaten favourite Stellar Pauline crossed 1.6 lengths back fifth.

It was the ideal Magic Night Stakes result for Cummings who looked like he would miss out on a shot at back-to-back Golden Slipper wins by a trainer for the first time since Gai Waterhouse (2012-13).

Thermosphere is the sole Slipper runner for Cummings in 2020 after he had five starters in last year’s event including the winning quinella as Kiamichi beat home Microphone in the world’s richest race for two-year-olds run last autumn on a Heavy (10).

“This is a classy filly. She has the right credentials and excellent temperament. We thought she had a little bit of ability last year but she has come along and kept improving and has the temperament to keep showing that,” Cummings said of Thermosphere post-win. 

“She pinged the barriers today, much better than at Newcastle last start. James was in control of her and was able to slide into the race when he wanted to. An excellent performance from her and a good ride from James. He was quite confident of her handling the ground today which was important.

“Kiamichi won on the rain affected seven days out last year. That proved to be vital on a day that was completely bottomless on Slipper day which was a good day for Godolphin. As far as the Golden Slipper goes we will have a talk about it and we’ll get through the next few days.”

Kiamichi won the Golden Slipper as a $26 outsider and the updated Golden Slipper Stakes odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au on the Magic Night Stakes winner for 2020 are currently at $31.

Click here for the latest all-in 2020 Golden Slipper betting markets from Ladbrokes.com.au ahead of Tuesday’s final acceptances.

2020 Magic Night Stakes Results