3 minute read

An improving track is on the cards at Kembla Grange on Saturday with Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside to make his much anticipated return.

Beginning his career back in January, Stay Inside won the Slipper at just his fourth start and rounded out his 2YO season rated 122 by Timeform – he was king of the castle.

That rating of 122 puts him alongside past winners Farnan, Vancouver and Capitalist two of which were beaten in the San Domenico Stakes on their return (Farnan was beaten in the Run To The Rose).

So will Stay Inside be any different?

Winning the Golden Slipper is not a curse but winning it does result in you giving weight away on your return.

Horses can be ahead of the curve at two with the rest catching up at three.

If that is the case for Stay Inside he now has the challenge of meeting more developed/mature rivals while also giving them weight.

Based on his first up win Paulele projects to run north of 117 on Saturday a figure which would require Stay Inside to run >=120 to beat him (at the weights).

In 20 years only two Slipper winners have done that first up, Pierro and Sepoy – certainly puts Stay Inside in rare air if successful.

Adding to that Paulele has a fitness edge, should settle ahead of him and has McDonald aboard, three pretty big ticks.

I have Paulele marked favourite and very intrigued to see what the market does tomorrow.

In the final event the Chris Waller trained Yiyi gets his chance to back bounce after being turned over at the short odds last start.

Getting beaten comfortably by Canyonero does look mediocre form at first glance but from a ratings perspective he mirrored what he did the start prior.

He conceded Canyonero 5kg and the latter has since run well confirming that level of performance.

The big plus for Yiyi is getting back onto a wet track and he looks to lob into the perfect spot for McDonald.

Kept on the fresh side (24 days) and should be hard to beat.

Simon Dinopoulos' Tips:

Race 6 #4 Paulele @ $2.80

Race 10 #13 Yiyi  @ $4.40