Racing: Real Saga Slipper favourite despite draw

Real Saga has been promoted to outright favouritism for Saturday's A$3.5 million ($4.3 million) Golden Slipper with bookmakers dismissing barrier 13 as a concern.

The colt from the stable of Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes has been jostling with the Gai Waterhouse-trained filly More Joyous at the top of markets for several weeks.

TAB Sportsbet left Real Saga at $3.50 after yesterday's barrier draw and eased More Joyous to $3.80 after she drew 12.

Waterhouse last night agreed Real Saga would be hard to beat but said drawing wide might not be a disadvantage given the prospect of a wet track.

"It makes no difference," Waterhouse said.

"For the last two weeks they've been racing five and six off the fence anyway and that might be the best place to be by Saturday."

Waterhouse also has Manhattan Rain (barrier 5, $11) and Horizons (barrier 17, $61) in the race and all three worked strongly on the course proper at Randwick yesterday morning.

"I'm very happy with all three," Waterhouse said.

"More Joyous worked superbly. She skipped over the ground."

The three-time Golden Slipper-winning trainer nominated Real Saga, Reward For Effort and Manhattan Rain as the hardest to beat.

The only time Real Saga has been beaten was in the Blue Diamond Stakes when he ran second.

"You've got to respect Real Saga," Waterhouse said. "He won the Breeders Plate in the spring and that race always produces a good horse."

"And the horse of Peter Moody's - Reward For Effort - I saw him this morning and he worked very well. It's going to be a tough Slipper to win."

The previously unbeaten Rostova choked down when she ran fifth in the Blue Diamond as favourite and was fitted with a tongue tie in the VRC Sires' Produce Stakes which she duly won.

Trainer Steve Richards brought Rostova from Melbourne last week and she pleased him with her second to Reward For Effort in a trial on Friday.

Punters have also warmed to the filly who is the only runner apart from Real Saga and More Joyous under double figures in markets.

She firmed from $8 to $7 yesterday after drawing barrier nine which pleased Richards.

"If the emergency drawn inside her doesn't run she comes into eight and I was hoping to be in the first eight.

"The wet ground is an unknown. They don't sell umbrellas in Melbourne because there's no use for them. It hasn't rained for 11 years."

HONOURS EVEN
* The Golden Slipper has been won by 24 colts, six geldings and 22 fillies.
* Sixteen favourites have won the Slipper since its inception, the latest being Sebring (2008).
* Shane Dye and Ron Quinton hold the record for riding the most winners with four victories apiece.

- AAP