The reputation of the NSW Southern Highlands as a thoroughbred nursery will receive a significant boost if favourite Coolangatta and brilliant filly Fireburn perform to expectations in the $5 million Group 1 Golden Slipper on Saturday at Rosehill Gardens.
Both two-year-olds were bred in the picturesque region, Coolangatta (Written Tycoon x Piping Hot) at Milburn Creek and Fireburn (Rebel Dane x Mull Over) across the lake at Steve Grant’s Silverdale Farm.
“It would be wonderful for the Southern Highlands if they quinella the race,” Grant said.
By Written Tycoon out of More Than Ready mare Piping Hot, Coolangatta is unbeaten in three starts and remains a solid favourite despite an unorthodox preparation.
The Golden Slipper (1200m) will be her first appearance since capturing the Magic Millions Classic on the Gold Coast 63 days earlier, and no horse has won the world’s richest two-year-old race off such a long break. However, her trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace are master horseman and are confident Coolangatta is good enough to complete the task.
Fireburn has also proven herself one of the eminent fillies of her generation.
After finishing a luckless fourth on debut at Warwick Farm in December, the daughter of Rebel Dane and So You Think mare Mull Over, has strung together a trio of impressive wins.
The most recent came in the Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m) at Randwick last month, when she produced her trademark turn of foot to defeat subsequent Group 3 Magic Night Stakes winner, She’s Extreme and stamp herself as a genuine Golden Slipper contender.
Trainer Gary Portelli also put the polish on Fireburn’s Group 1-winning sire and was moved to compare the two after her Sweet Embrace Stakes win.
“She is a machine, just like the stallion,” Portelli said.
“She is him in a filly’s body. She’s such a beautiful filly, she’s got that presence about her, a beautiful head and she can gallop.
“We had so much fun with Rebel Dane and I reckon this filly is well on her way to some big things.”
A Golden Slipper win by Fireburn would provide a timely boost for the under-rated Rebel Dane.
The stallion has produced great results from limited opportunities and claims a 23 per cent Stakes Performers to Runners rate. He is currently residing at Silverdale Farm as his stakeholders ponder where to stand him for the 2022 breeding season.
News from Grant Bloodstock
