Golden Slipper Bound Menari Tops Todman Stakes 2017 Nominations

Equal second elect in futures Golden Slipper Stakes betting, Menari is the headline nominee for the Group 2 Todman Stakes 2017 at Royal Randwick on the weekend.

Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes scratching Jukebox is a chance to race in Sydney’s Todman Stakes 2017 this Saturday at Royal Randwick. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

All the top contenders for this season’s $3 million Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m), to run at Rosehill on March 18, are entered for a lead-up run in either the Reisling Stakes for fillies or Todman Stakes for the colts and geldings this Saturday.

The fillies’ edition on Randwick Guineas Day is dominated by current $3 favourite in all-in Golden Slipper Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au – She Will Reign.

In the boys’ edition – the $300,000 Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m) – the shortest-priced in Slipper betting at $8 is the Gerald Ryan-trained Menari.

He is also the dominant $2.70 top elect in pre-field Todman Stakes betting this weekend, the progressive Snitzel colt shooting for his second career win.

He took out his debut by nearly two lengths in mid-January over 1100m at Randwick, before a close second to Pariah in the Group 3 Canonbury Stakes (1100m) later that month at Rosehill.

Pariah franked the form out of the Canonbury Stakes last weekend in Melbourne when runner-up to class filly Catchy in the Group 1 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m).

Menari meanwhile trialled beautifully over 900m on a Heavy (8) Rosehill track on Monday morning winning the hit-out by five lengths in an ideal prep for his return this weekend.

There is also a chance Ryan will save Menari for a Sunday run in the Group 3 Black Opal Stakes in Canberra.

Stablemate Chauffeur was runner-up to Houtzen, who is the other $8 Golden Slipper Stakes fancy, in the $2 million Group 1 Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) on the Gold Coast and is down to return in the Todman on Saturday.

The fellow Ryan-trained son of Snitzel has had three career starts for three top three runs including finishing only a half-length away in the Magic Millions race as a $19 chance.

He currently pays $15 to win the Golden Slipper Stakes 2017 in an upset, but is shorter as one of three $6.50 hopes in the futures Todman Stakes odds.

The other best in betting for this weekend are the John O’Shea-trained Street Cry colt Trekking and the fellow Godolphin-raced Veranillo.

Trekking hasn’t raced since a Rosehill win on debut in early December, while stablemate Veranillo won the Listed Lonhro Plate (1100m) two back before the brave second to She Will Reign on February 18 in the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes.

The other key Todman Stakes nominee is the undefeated Ciaron Maher-trained Jukebox.

The Inglis Premier winner was a key pick for the Blue Diamond Stakes last Saturday, but was scratched the afternoon before the race after being found to be lame in his action by the vets.

Check out the official Todman Stakes 2017 nominations below, all-in betting on it and the Golden Slipper Stakes out now at Ladbrokes.com.au – home of Odds Boost (T&Cs apply).

2017 Todman Stakes Nominations

Randwick Racecourse – 04/03/2017