Augusta to do SA Proud in the Slipper.

The Pride of Port Augusta, Augusta Proud, will tackle a field of 16 in Saturday's AAMI Golden Slipper Stakes at Rosehill. Connections have chosen to pay the $150,000 late entry fee, after the unbeaten filly has taken out the Group Three Marsh Breeders' Stakes, Magic Millions Adelaide 2yo Classic, and the Magic Millions 2YO Classic on the Gold Coast, amongst her six victories.

Trainer Leon Macdonald was very happy with the result of the barrier draw, which has seen Augusta Proud draw the coveted barrier one. Macdonald advised “ the filly is going along very well in her ‘new' environment , and at this stage all is going to plan” , after the filly pulled up a little ‘shiny' after her win on the Gold Coast.

Augusta Proud is owned by a group of Port Augusta schoolmates, including former two-time Olympic steeplechaser Kerry O'brien, who bred the filly. O'brien made the decision to retain ownership after the More Than Ready filly was passed in at the Adelaide Magic Millions Sales 2007 for $47,500, just short of the $50,000 reserve price. The filly is already a valuable future broodmare proposition, and I'm sure that if Augusta Proud wins the Golden Slipper the connections will be over the moon, but I wonder just what might the underbidder be thinking?

Darren Halsey -Racing Department