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By Ray Hickson

The time’s right for promising filly Queen Of The Ball to announce herself as a leading Golden Slipper contender at Rosehill on Saturday but co-trainer Michael Freedman is also keen to learn how versatile the youngster is.

Trainer Michael Freedman

There’s no getting away from the fact that while the filly was a runaway winner of the Group 3 Widden Stakes (1100m) last month the track was playing to leaders.

Freedman said barrier one affords Rachel King the option to lead or take a trail on Queen Of The Ball in the Group 2 $250,000 Fujitsu General Silver Slipper (1100m) and would be comfortable with either scenario.

“You need to factor in there was some bias there on that day and that might distort the form a little bit,’’ Freedman said.

“I think Saturday gives us the opportunity to see where she measures up against the others.”

It seems the filly is Richard and Michael Freedman's lone shot at defending their Golden Slipper crown after the now retired Stay Inside's easy win in 2021.

In the Widden, Queen Of The Ball drew the outside alley and Freedman said that forced their hand to push the button and go to the front.

She ran 0.38 seconds faster, or over two lengths, than Canonbury Stakes winner Best Of Bordeaux, one of her Silver Slipper rivals, did in winning over the same course and in doing so easily accounted for subsequent Blue Diamond Prelude winner Revolutionary Miss.

“We’ll see how the race pans out but I’d have no qualms if Rachel wanted to take a sit with cover because I think she is the kind of filly that’s tractable enough to be happy doing that,’’ Freedman said.

“It seems to be a nice draw, hopefully it works out that way. If you begin well it gives you options as to where and how you ride.”

The filly was $2.60 favourite with TAB on Wednesday in the Silver Slipper market, and on the third line of betting at $13 in the $5 million Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) in four weeks.

Freedman said he’s never been too concerned about where she sits against the colts, especially given three fillies head the Slipper market, but her place in the picture will become clearer come the weekend.

“On many levels we’ll get a pretty good idea where we sit in terms of being a genuine contender for the better two-year-old races or not,’’ he said.

“In years gone by I’ve had fillies like Frolic who took on her own sex all the way through until she got to the Slipper and ran well.

“I couldn’t be happier with how she’s done since the Widden. The three weeks between runs has done her some good and I was happy with her work on Tuesday.”

Of course the winner of the Silver Slipper will pass the first level of eligibility for the Australian Turf Club’s $1 million bonus if they can win another Golden Slipper lead up race (Skyline or Todman for the colts, Sweet Embrace or Reisling for the fillies) and the Slipper itself.

Queen Of The Ball wins at Rosehill on January 29

The Silver Slipper is often a good guide to the grand final with the likes of Farnan (2020), She Will Reign (2017), Mossfun (2014) and Pierro (2012) completing the double in the last decade.

Honest performer Ulysses is close to a win, according to Freedman, after two runs back and will likely have his chance in the XXXX Handicap (1400m).

Dual accepted for Canterbury, where he drew wide, the gelding was beaten a length second-up by Impasse at Rosehill three weeks ago and meets a similar race.

“I thought his last run in particular was really good, I thought he had his hoof right on the till,’’ Freedman said.

“He just got held up a little bit up the straight and had to angle away from the rail. His last 50 or 100m was his best and I think it shapes as a good option for him.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Rosehill meeting