March 31, 2013, 10:30 p.m.
IF Overreach's name does not appear in the death notices this week then she will be winning the $3.5 million Golden Slipper this Saturday.
That is the only conclusion that can be drawn in the wash-up of Saturday's final lead-up races to the great Golden Slipper.
Overreach has taken care of anything she has met in Sydney this preparation with class and style.
On Saturday, punters craved to see if anything in the boys or girls division would jump up out of the ground as Slipper contenders.
As Dr Seuss once wrote in books like The Cat In The Hat the question may be difficult but the answer is easy.
The answer is no way will any horse racing on Saturday beat Overreach.
Scandiva, the winner of the fillies race the Magic Night Stakes, is not an entry, and if the connections did fork out the late entry of $150,000 they would be playing for a minor spot on the podium.
In the Pago Pago for the colts, Sidestep was brilliant.
But he did toss the rider two weeks ago then had to run a very fast time on Saturday and now has to back up for a third straight week in the Slipper.
The fact that jockey Kerrin McEvoy said yesterday that Sidestep is the one he wants to ride from the trio of Peter Snowden runners in the big one is a big recommendation for this colt.
But the task ahead for Sidestep is simply a bridge too far for any juvenile.
Yes, if Overreach is breathing and receives any sort of decent barrier tomorrow then the Golden Slipper will fit her very nicely indeed.
■ There was a decent splash of Luskin Star in the way Bel Sprinter put his rivals to the sword in the group 1 Galaxy (1100m) on Saturday at Rosehill.
Those with long memories still bask in the glory of Luskin Star's 1977 Golden Slipper win.
Blazing Saddles was well in front in the straight, going great and looked home until John Wade said go on the great Novocastrian.
They gave Blazing Saddles windburn as they went past.
That was re-enacted on Saturday as Snitzerland was being cuddled by Corey Brown in the straight.
She looked the goods to win easily.
That was until Bel Sprinter went whoosh and the Galaxy was over.
That was ultra impressive.
For anyone to say that the weights of the race was the difference is kidding themselves.
The best horse won, and won as easy as Luskin Star did. Now the big question is whether Bel Sprinter is the one to challenge Black Caviar in the T. J. Smith.
Well, not at weight for age, but maybe at least we will have a jockey trying to win rather than just get second behind the great mare.
■ The Newcastle connections of Hathras are confident he will get a start in Saturday's group 1 $2.5 million BMW over 2400m at Rosehill.
Trainer Kris Lees is hoping to have Hathras, unbeaten sprinter Senta De Noche (group 3 $125,00 Sebring Stakes over 1200m) and maybe Gold Epona ($400,000 group 1 Vinery Stakes over 2000m) competing on Saturday.
Lees is tossing up whether to run Gold Epona this week or keep her for the group 3 Adrian Knox over 2000m the following Saturday.
The filly, which has won just under $150,000 from three wins, is entered for the group 1 Oaks at Randwick.
Newcastle syndicators Australian Bloodstock imported Hathras from Germany.
Principal Jamie Lovett told Stable Talk late on Saturday night that after crunching the numbers he was confident Hathras would make the 14-horse field for the BMW.
"By my reckoning we are in the field which is great," Lovett said.
"I know he is up massively in grade but Hathras is improving so sharply he deserves a shot in a big race like the BMW."
Last start Hathras won a four-horse field at Warwick Farm by nine lengths over 2200m on March 21.
An old saying in racing is that the only people who worry about time are prisoners and dog trainers.
But Lovett disagrees.
"I know he beat nothing last start but his time was brilliant and his sectionals show he is something special," Lovett said. "I do not think he is out of the BMW class by any means."
Australian Bloodstock could have two runners in the BMW.
Mawingo which finished fourth in the Ranvet at Rosehill last start is set for a BMW start.
The Anthony Freedman- trained import was also bought to Australia by Australian Bloodstock.
"Mawingo did enough last start to show he is getting back to somewhere near his best," Lovett said.
■ Astute Newcastle trainer Alan Scorse is considering an assault on the rich Brisbane carnival with his smart sprinter Watch The Magic.
Watch The Magic made it two straight wins when he scored in the benchmark 70 over 900m at Broadmeadow on Saturday.
Watch The Magic had previously won in track-record time over 1000m at Wyong.
On Saturday, he was checked near the start yet rattled home the final 600m in 32.05 seconds.
The odds-on favourite is now headed for Sydney in three weeks' time.
Scorse said that if he continues to win Watch The Magic could go to Brisbane over the winter for a couple of rich, restricted sprints.
■ Let's just hope that Fiveandahalfstar gets through the BMW on Saturday with no problems.
At least if he starts in the Derby the following Saturday, It's A Dundeel might have some sort of opposition.
If Fiveandahalfstar is not there think what a mess It's A Dundeel will make of them if he meets the same sort of opposition he thrashed in Saturday's Rosehill Guineas.
■ Newcastle mare Emotional Circus will undergo a thorough vet examination following her failure at Rosehill on Saturday.
"She was very disappointing and I think something is wrong for her to go that bad," trainer Kris Lees said.
"I have asked the vet to go over her from head to toe to try and sort out why she did nothing whatsoever on Saturday.
"After I get the results of all the tests I will worry about where to go next with her."
Emotional Circus was always well back when third last in the Birthday Card Stakes.
■ Newcastle trainer Darren Smith said he would give Atomic Force a few days to get over his seventh in the Galaxy before making a call on the sprinter's future.
■ Leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller looks to have another potential staying star on his hands with overseas raider Index Linked.
Index Linked looked real good in winning a 1500m maiden at Newcastle on Saturday. The five-year-old from England will only get better with more racing and longer distances.
■ Just 10,000 people fronting at Rosehill on Saturday only proves that Easter Saturday racing in Sydney has to be at Randwick.
At Newcastle there was a crowd that certainly was not large. As one wag put it, at least more than double the crowd at Broadmeadow on Newmarket day - and that was counting feet.
■ Here is a brief form guide to Newcastle's runners at Randwick on Monday.
Race 1: A Bridge Too Far (Kris Lees): Did win well in class 2 company at Scone first up and is a chance despite racing in harder grade.
Race 3: Brannickers (Kris Lees): Is first up here.
Race 3: Soapy Star (Kris Lees): Talented, in this grade and a hope despite big weight.
Race 6: Pirate Bay (Kris Lees): Imported galloper that ran on well from near last when fifth at first Aussie start. Definite improver.
Race 7: Oakfield Commands (Darren Smith): Has ability but has drawn the carpark.
Race 8: Pitt Street (Kris Lees) Is a real trier which has each-way hopes again here.
Bereft (David Atkins): This is so much easier than first assignment for new trainer in the Newcastle Newmarket.
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