Canyonero seeks maiden on path to Slipper

Canyonero can take an important step towards a start in the $3.5 million Golden Slipper when the colt attempts to break his maiden win at Randwick.

Trainer Mark Newnham is hardly getting ahead of himself where Canyonero is concerned, but after a third on debut on the Inglis Nursery last month the world’s richest race for two-year-olds in March is impossible to ignore.

“I’d like to think Golden Slipper, but he has to win first. Anyone who’s winning with a two-year-old in Saturday grade at the moment is dreaming of a Golden Slipper so we might as well,” Newnham said.

Ineligible for the Inglis Classic (1200m) at Warwick Farm next month because he was bought at the Easter sale, Canyonero will have his second start on Saturday and then ideally will have a break.

“If he was able to win I’d probably give him a short break and aim towards the autumn,” Newnham said.

Canyonero has drawn barrier five in the 11-horse fields with Tye Angland to ride.

“That gives Tye options and I imagine he’ll be fairly close to the speed over 1200 although with two-year-olds you can’t plan the race too much. They could end up anywhere.”

Canyonero was a $101 chance in the TAB Golden Slipper market on Tuesday, the same price stablemate Quackerjack was for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) on January 13 until the colt qualified for the Gold Coast with an impressive victory last Saturday.

Newnham said Quackerjack, who is now into $15, bounced out of his win over 1000m at Randwick in good order.

“It was always going to be a good result for someone as a lead-in and Saturday’s race at least showed he’ll be very strong at the end of 1200,” he said.

“He’ll have a gallop on Saturday morning and head up on Monday night.”

Super Ex, Newnham’s hope for the Magic Millions Guineas (1400m), will return to Sydney for further treatment after he pulled up with a knee issue after running second last in Saturday’s Group Three Vo Rogue Plate (1350m) at Doomben.

“We’re going over the problem at the moment, he’ll be going for a spell,” Newnham said.