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By Ray Hickson

Nothing but quotes from the trainers of every runner in the 2019 Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

1. Yes Yes Yes (Chris Waller): "He is the right horse for the race but it is made a little harder by the barrier draw where he will start from the extreme outside. The horse at least comes into the race with very good form and is well prepared and I think he will get through the conditions without too much trouble. His work through the week has been of a very good standard, he is a fit horse and should be peaking at the right time.’’

Trainer James Cummings (Pic: Steve Hart).

2. Microphone (James Cummings): “He’s a strong individual and he’s capable of absorbing a fast speed and still sprinting to the line. He comes into this on fresh legs with three weeks from the Skyline. I feel that he’s going to be suited by the three-week break into another high-pressure race.’’

3. Time To Reign (Gary Portelli): “Half the battle is getting there, having your horse right on the day and that's where we are at. We got the rain we need and we feel we're back on track. If he brings his Tassort form he's the horse to beat.’’

4. Free Of Debt (Chris Bieg): “He’s done everything right to date, the first colt home in the Blue Diamond definitely justifies his position. It’s an open race but I’m not worried about anyone else, I just make sure my horse is fit and ready to go on Saturday. I’d like him to sit one out and one back, get a good cart up into the race and present him at the 300m mark.’’

5. Cosmic Force (Peter & Paul Snowden): “The horse is in really good order and for mine he hasn't peaked. He's very laid back, he wants to please you all the time and he's racing better every time he steps out. I'm confident there's still one more good one left in him.’’

6. Dubious (Ciaron Maher & David Eustace): “The horse is spot on, I’m very happy with him. Everything has gone to plan. He’s a well rounded racehorse and you know he finds off the bridle. He’ll make his own luck, that’s normally what he does. He puts himself in a race, we work it out from there and Michael (Walker) knows him well.’’

7. Lyre (Anthony Freedman): “She’s fairly bombproof. The Blue Diamond was the grand final but we had the Slipper in our thoughts if she pulled up well. And (Tuesday) morning she galloped on the course proper at Randwick, worked with a mate and went past like it was standing still. So I think that the ground is not going to be an issue. She seems to be thriving at the moment.”

8. Lankan Star (David & Ben Hayes & Tom Dabernig): “Her placing in the Blue Diamond was excellent. Last start she drew off the track and didn’t have any luck. She has to handle the seven day back up but she will be well positioned from the good gate.’’

Trainer Peter Snowden (Pic: Steve Hart).

9. Tenley (James Cummings): “She has the record of a filly that belies her racing pattern. It says a lot about her booming finish to have a three-nil scoreline coming into the Slipper. You have to give her credit for the way she can produce in the final furlong under pressure.’’

10. Pin Sec (James Cummings): “The Black Opal win was a slashing victory and her debut win interestingly was far different given she didn’t have run of the race advantages. She was forced to show incredible determination and perseverance to claim them in the latter stages. For that reason she’s a bit more experienced than her record shows. With a wet track likely, we like the fact that she is a Lonhro filly from a daughter of Commands which has been shown to be a successful formula for rain affected going.”

11. Anaheed (Peter & Paul Snowden): “We tried to ride her back behind the speed (last run) to see how she'd react and it probably backfired a bit. We won't be so negative this Saturday, we'll ride her up on the speed knowing she can handle the wet and run a strong 1200m. She worked on the course proper and it was a bog and she went through it like it was nothing.’’

12. Kiamichi (James Cummings): “She brings a wonderful Rosehill record into the Golden Slipper, arriving here on the back of her determined wet-track victory in the G3 Magic Night. Her debut victory back in November hinted at the strength she possesses and she’s a filly who is capable of bringing that quality into the Slipper on what seems likely to be another wet track.”

13. Catch Me (Peter & Paul Snowden): “Catch Me has shown glimpses of absolute brilliance in the past. She has to stretch it to 1200m but there's no reason why she won't off a hot speed. Even though it is a wet track they won't be dawdling, the quicker they go early the better it will suit her.’’

14. Vincere Volare (Tony Gollan): “We’re very excited to have another runner in the Slipper. Everything has gone exactly to plan, I have no excuses to offer for her preparation. It’s been faultless. She’ll present a very fit, healthy horse and then it’s up to the race gods whether she gets through the testing ground. We won’t be changing her racing pattern, she’s very a quick filly out of the gates and she’s always in for the fight.’’

Trainer Ciaron Maher (Pic: Bradley Photos).

15. Exhilarates (James Cummings): “She was there to run well (in the Reisling) but definitely not at her best so fresh since the Magic Millions. We love the way she’s gone ahead. She’s already proven to be able to perform on the big stage when that intense pressure comes on.”

16. Loving Gaby (Ciaron Maher & David Eustace): “She’s learning each start, she was slow away at her first start and was pretty good in the Diamond. We’ll just have to work out the dynamics of the race but I’d say she’ll be midfield somewhere. She’s come through the trial well and worked strongly on Tuesday morning. She needs a smooth, uninterrupted run.’’

17 (em). Bivouac (James Cummings): “His form line is undeniably very good and he just looks like wanting to be ridden a little bit cuter than he was last time to be able to be at his competitive best with these horses. He’s a colt who will revel in the conditions and he could be forgiven for fading on his run last time after being wide throughout.”

All the fields, form and replays for Golden Slipper Day meeting at Rosehill Gardens