Frolic Beats Golden Slipper 2017 Favourite: Reisling Stakes Results

It is onto the 2017 Golden Slipper Stakes at Rosehill Gardens in a fortnight’s time for the classy Michael Freedman-trained filly Frolic who came from widest on the track to defeat the odds-on favourite She Will Reign in Saturday’s Reisling Stakes.

Frolic beat the 2017 Golden Slipper Stakes betting favourite in the Reisling Stakes at Randwick. Photo: Steve Hart.

Kicking off a wet day of racing at Royal Randwick on Saturday, the $300,000 Group 2 Reisling Stakes (1200m) offered a ballot exemption to the winning two-year-old filly into the $3.5 million Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m).

Earning that ballot free ride into the field for the world’s richest juveniles’ race was consistent young Husson filly Frolic who was given a gem of a ride from two-time Golden Slipper Stakes winning filly Tommy Berry on a Heavy Randwick track.

Berry told stewards pre-race he would be going right to the outside on the mud course, which is where he believed the ground was best.

It proved a winning move as he was able to get Frolic home in a charging late run off a stone cold ride to fly past the Gary Portelli-trained Silver Slipper Stakes winner She Will Reign in an upset Reisling Stakes result.

“As soon as I got on the ground [outside] she quickened,” a mud-covered Berry said post-win.

“I wanted to keep her as comfortable as I could until I got there and the rest is history.”

She Will Reign had won her three previous career starts before the shock loss in the Reisling Stakes, but is still sure to lead pre-field Golden Slipper betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au.

Freedman is just happy to have his first Golden Slipper Stakes starter in the 2017 edition of the Rosehill classic with Frolic who came into the Reisling off a restricted win in the Inglis Classic (1200m) from mid-February.

“Today obviously the conditions aren’t ideal and I’m sure there’s a few that will come out of it with hard luck stories because of the track,” Freedman said.

“But she [Frolic] has had a perfect prep going into the Slipper and now she’s gained a start she’s got a nice two weeks.”

Best out of the barriers in the Golden Slipper lead-up on the weekend was the Chris Waller-trained From Within who led the field around.

She Will Reign jumped midfield, quickly scooting up to settle second and third behind the front-runner and Lucky Louie who was kept close to the inside rail.

From Within stayed in the pacemaker position rolling along and led into the turn, She Will Reign and her hoop Ben Melham stalking her up into the top of the straight.

The hot favourite was quickly up even with From Within, travelling beautifully and moving into the lead looking like she would draw away to salute for the punters.

In a blink of an eye though things quickly changed, Berry and Frolic flying down the outside rail to beat the favourite by a strong margin with the James Cummings-trained Villa Carlotta in third.

Frolic will now be given the chance to complete the Reisling Stakes – Golden Slipper Stakes double for the first time since Overreach (2013) and the first Golden Slipper Stakes winning filly since Mossfun (2014).

To back the Reisling Stakes 2017 winner Frolic at the right Golden Slipper Stakes odds head to Ladbrokes.com.au now.

2017 Reisling Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Randwick Race 1 – 04/03/2017