Australian two-year-olds on Golden Slipper trail

A pair of talented youngsters will be out to add to Godolphin’s presence in next month’s G1 Golden Slipper Stakes when they run in traditional lead-up races at Rosehill on Saturday.

Coruscate (Brenton Avdulla), a winner in maiden company at his only start, steps up a few grades in the G2 Skyline Stakes, but trainer John O’Shea believes he is up to the task despite having the strong Golden Slipper prospect Menari among his opponents.

“Coruscate was a good winner first up and he’s improved since then,” O’Shea said.

“He maps nicely from a good gate and he can run well even though the Slipper second favourite is in the race.”

A son of Exceed And Excel, Coruscate did a good job when scoring at Canterbury on February 3, having trialled nicely before that.

The filly Savatiano (Tommy Berry) has her third start in the G2 Sweet Embrace Stakes, with O’Shea satisfied that she can get into the finish, despite a wide gate.

Savatiano ran an even race on debut in a race won by Teaspoon who is among her rivals again on Saturday.

But she showed her true form last time out when a close second at Randwick.

“She should have won last start when she got too far back from a wide gate,” he said.

“With a bit of luck she can turn the tables on Teaspoon.”

Both Coruscate and Savatiano need to run well to qualify for $3.5 million Golden Slipper, run at Rosehill on March 18.

The Randwick stakes entry is completed by Chetwood who is looking to return to his best form in the G3 Liverpool City Cup.

Chetwood (Tim Clark) comes to Saturday’s race off the worst run of his career in the G2 Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley last month.

He has returned to O’Shea’s Sydney stable to be freshened up since that run and finds himself in a race that should suit.

“He’s provided us with a few headaches, but he did put in a lovely piece of work on Wednesday morning,” the trainer said.

“We just need to get him into a race where he can get some momentum and have a positive day out.

“He can control the race from the front, which he likes.”