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Wet weather set to thwart Sword Of State’s Slipper bid  

Jamie Richards’ plan to run Saturday’s Sistema Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Sword Of State (Snitzel) in the Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday could be shelved, should the forecast rain arrive in Sydney.

The team at Te Akau Racing were left gutted when the rain came in Melbourne on Saturday it put paid to Probabeel’s (Savabeel) chances in the All-Star Mile (1600m) and with rain forecast all week Richards was fearing another similar scenario this Saturday with the son of Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice). 

“We are thinking of sending him across but the forecast is terrible,’’ Richards told Racing.com 

“In our opinion he needs good ground. I know they say Snitzels can handle a bit of rain but he’s got a very fast action and I think he’s better on top of it.

“We are going to have a think about it after he trots up in the morning.”

The trainer also said that star mare Melody Belle (Commands), who added a record-breaking 14th Group 1 win to her record in the Bonecrusher Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) on Saturday, could shoot for number 15 in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) at Randwick on April 10. 

‘’She’s a champion,’’ Richards said. ‘’There’s a good chance she’ll come over for a race like the Queen Elizabeth and try and make it 15 (group 1s) or we might have a look at Brisbane with her.’’