Champs vie for glory
Storm Boy, Switzerland make Slipper the best since ‘69
Storm Boy and Switzerland tightened their grip on favouritism for the $5m TAB Golden Slipper after drawing perfectly for the world’s richest twoyear-old race at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
The all-important barrier draw on Tuesday morning was kind to the two superstar colts with Storm Boy to start from gate two and Switzerland out of seven.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Storm Boy firmed from $2.30 to $2.10 favouritism with Switzerland next at $4.50 then it is a $11 the field with TAB Fixed Odds.
In a season that has produced a vintage crop of twoyear-olds, Storm Boy and Switzerland seem to tower over their rivals. Both colts boast big pedigrees and highprofile owners, and their trainers and jockeys are world class.
Bruce McAvaney, the voice of Australian sport and presenter of Channel 7’s Golden Slipper coverage on Saturday, said the clash between Coolmore’s unbeaten colts Storm Boy and Switzerland has the same feel to it as the 1969 showdown between Victoria’s freakish colt Vain and NSW’s brilliant filly Special Girl.
“There was not another horse in the race under 10/1 in Vain-Special Girl’s year when Vain scored a famous win and it is similar this year with Storm Boy and Switzerland. It is so rare to have two unbeaten colts meet in the Golden Slipper. In all the time I have been following racing I think this Saturday’s Golden Slipper has the potential to be, in terms of the build-and the occasion, as close to 1969 as we have seen.’’
This is a classic showdown between Storm Boy and Switzerland, two colts with genuine star power but the clashes within the clash is making this Golden Slipper the most anticipated in years.
THE TRAINERS
Gai Waterhouse has prepared a record seven Golden Slipper winners and she has a powerful team of six starters plus the emergency including favourite Storm Boy for her attempt at an eighth win in the world’s richest juvenile race.
Waterhouse has been in a training partnership with Adrian Bott since 2016 – they won the 2020 Golden Slipper together with Farnan – and are also saddling up Straight Charge, Shangri La Express, Prost, Fully Lit, Lady Of Camelot and the emergency, Espionage.
But their main rival is Chris Waller, trainer of Switzerland. He’s chasing a second successive Golden Slipper after his success with Shinzo for Coolmore last year. “I feel because they are both Coolmore horses in essence, this is quite personal for Gai and Chris,’’ McAvaney said.
“If either was to win, it would give them one of their biggest thrills of their training careers.
“For Gai, it would be a record eighth Golden Slipper and it would be great for Adrian, too. If Switzerland wins, it means Chris has trained four Group 1 two-year-old winners in a row in Sydney after Shinzo and Militarize (Inglis Sires, Champagne Stakes) last year.’’
THE JOCKEYS
English superstar Ryan Moore is the reigning Longines World’s Best Jockey, a title he wrested from 2022 winner, James McDonald.
The two champion riders clash in the Golden Slipper with Moore taking over on Storm Boy and McDonald staying with Switzerland.
“There’s arguably the No. 1 jockey in the world (Moore) against, I think, the best jockey we have seen in Australia for possibly ever,’’ McAvaney said.
“I believe James has the potential to become the all-time greatest jockey in this country.
“James makes Switzerland shorter in the market and I would have him a ‘nose’ in front of Ryan riding in this country.’’
THE COLTS
Storm Boy is rated as potentially the best two-year-old since Pierro, the 2012 Golden Slipper and triple crown winner.
The wonder colt has won his four races easily including the Magic Millions and has been the long-time Golden Slipper favourite.
“If Storm Boy were to win the Slipper he puts himself in the frame for Horse of the Year,’’ McAvaney said.
Switzerland is a different style of colt but similarly impressive. He races off the speed by has a strong finishing sprint.
“What I love about Switzerland him is the ease of the way he goes about his work,’’ McAvaney said. “He goes through his gears so smoothly and is a great ‘hunter’.”