A Golden Slipper qualifying win for Always Allison may not be enough to tempt the filly’s connections to pay a late-entry fee for the $3.5 million race.
Sent out at $3.60 for Saturday’s Group Two Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm, Always Allison raced in a handy position and powered to the line half a length in front of favourite Speak Fondly ($3.30).
Trained by Chris Waller, Always Allison is not nominated for the Slipper and her owners Paul and Allison Fleming will be up for $150,000 if she is to run.
“It’s not my money so it is a pretty easy decision for me,” Waller said.
“We’ll put some thought into it over the next few days. It is a good problem to have.”
The filly’s rider Glyn Schofield believes her relaxed nature will take her to the longer Group One features, the Sires’ Produce (1400m) and the Champagne Stakes (1600m).
But Waller’s opinion is a little different.
“If you’re a Slipper horse you are a Sires’ horse,” he said.
“The winner of the Slipper can win the Sires’ and it is not much easier.”
Always Allison, who has won both her starts, has been elevated to $15 in the TAB’s Slipper market with Headwater the $4.60 favourite and Saturday’s Skyline Stakes winner Exosphere now at $6.
Source: bloodstock.com.au