Golden Slipper / Andy Morris / 16 March 2009 / Leave a comment Bet Now

I know I struggle to solve any Sudoku puzzle rated 'easy' but trying to figure out Golden Slipper form at this stage is making that numbers game look as easy as falling off a log.

Consider this:

The hot favourite is More Joyous and she is the veteran of two career race starts.

She won her debut in January at her first start and at her second put on a rodeo exhibition rather than gallop which resulted in her having to trial to earn the right to race again. So next Saturday we'll see her in the Reisling Slipper Trial at Rosehill Gardens.

There'll be more than one or two finger nails bitten between now and then as those punters who jumped in and took the 'all-in' odds pace up and down wondering if she'll smash her way into the top 16. Because that is what she has to do with only $42,000 in qualifying prizemoney to her name and almost 30 horses above her in the ballot order.

Then there's the Melbourne filly Rostova who's not even nominated for the Slipper.

She heads to the Reisling Slipper too and how she goes will determine whether connections open the wallet to pay the $150,000 late entry fee.

Talk about a lot hingeing on one race! Judging by her win in the Sires Produce over 1400 metres at Flemington her Golden Slipper form credentials read very well indeed but there is always that niggling doubt about horses adapting to the 'Sydney' (right hand) way of going.

One horse definitely not in that category is Real Saga. 'Battling' trainer John Hawkes has certainly learnt a thing or two over the years and in Real Saga he has laid a foundation that could see him and his sons Wayne and Michael in the limelight again.

Real Saga has wins in Melbourne and Sydney to his name and his run in the Blue Diamond when runner up to Reward for Effort was excellent. 'Team Hawkes' are expected to run Real Saga in the Todman Stakes next week

Manhattan Rain is the big firmer following Saturday's races at Royal Randwick.

The Redoute's Choice's half brother by Encosta de Lago gave a most professional display after Nash Rawiller got busy on him to account for The Mikado (another not nominated for the Slipper!). It looked like a 'grinding', but in the end highly convincing, win and the $12 on offer looks mighty attractive for a horse that is now fully qualified and exempt from the ballot.

And what about Peter Moody's two-year-olds making a complete 'liar' of him. Fresh from winning the Blue Diamond with Reward for Effort he produced Headway to win the Sweet Embrace Stakes on Saturday.

Not bad for a bloke who has declared he is not a fan of two-year-old racing! Headway was partnered by Chris Munce who has had more than his fair share of problems with Hong Kong Administration over the last few years. I doubt the 'honchos' at the Hong Kong Jockey Club will be urging 'Monkey' to do a 'Dance Hero' but he does have form - Golden Slipper form that is.