She Will Reign eases to Longines Golden Slipper success at Rosehill Gardens

Ridden by Ben Melham and trained by Gary Portelli, the aptly named filly lived up to the title to win the world’s richest race for two-year-olds, coming in ahead of Frolic in second and Tulip being awarded third.

The Longines Golden Slipper Day is Rosehill Gardens’ showpiece race day and an occasion steeped in tradition in Australian horse racing circles. The AUD3.5 million Golden Slipper is coveted by trainers, jockeys and owners alike, with trainers Tommy Smith and his daughter Gai Waterhouse claiming the title each on six occasions.

Rosehill Gardens, located in Sydney’s western suburbs, is the proud home to the world’s richest race for two-year-olds and once again featured five Group 1 races with an prize pool on offer of over AUD7 million.

She Will Reign was something of a bargain buy for her large band of mostly first-time owners who formed a syndicate put together by Scott Darby who bought the filly as a yearling for $20,000.

Portelli, is among Sydney’s leading trainers outside the big four stables which dominate, whilst Melham is equally no stranger to the top level of Australia horse racing having ridden Black Caviar to her first Group One win in October 2010.

She Will Reign has always shown talent, with four wins from five starts, the only glitch coming last time out in the Reisling Stakes when ironically she was beaten by Frolic on a heavy track, the same conditions she got on Saturday.

As expected, Houtzen led the field but less predictably Melham took She Will Reign back, saved ground on the turn, before unleashing her in the straight where she held off and got revenge on Frolic.

Following a stewards’ inquiry, Menari who passed the post in third, was demoted to a place back to fourth for causing interference, with Tulip the beneficiary by being promoted to third.

Speaking afterwards, Portelli said, “This is a dream.

“I spoke to the jockey before the race and said to him ‘I think we have got to go forward’.

“He went quiet and said ‘I think I’m going to go back to last. I am cutting the corner. The way I see it I’m on the best horse and I’m going to ride her like she is’.”

Swiss watchmaker Longines are the Title Partner, Official Timekeeper and Watch of this historically rich Australian horseracing event, with the winning owner, trainer and jockey all awarded an elegant Longines timepiece for their success.

Although all eyes were on the Longines Golden Slipper, there was also significant interest in all the other races on the card, notably the China Horse Club George Ryder Group 1 race as Winx was looking to stretch her unbeaten sequence to 16 races.

In heavy conditions, the Chris Waller-trained star turned a race billed as a mouth-watering clash into something of a procession as she destroyed a field that included champion sprinter Chautauqua.

Le Romain, himself a Group 1 winner at his previous start, also lined up for a shot at the brilliant mare but Winx, ridden by Hugh Bowman was too good once again, leaving him seven and a quarter lengths adrift in second. Chautauqua could manage only third, another length and a quarter away.

Winx’s next start is set to come in the $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick on Saturday 8 April.