Arrowfield Stud sires tightened the screws on the Golden Slipper after an exciting weekend of racing in Sydney and Melbourne.

Arrowfield resident Charge Forward sired 2009 Golden Slipper runner-up Headway in his first crop and he’s bounced straight back with 2010 pre-post favourite Solar Charged.

Solar Charged (2f Charge Forward – Soul Singer by Danehill) simply outclassed the G3 Kindergarten Stakes field at Warwick Farm and is now a $4.60 favourite for the $3.5 million championship at Rosehill on April 3.

Jockey Hugh Bowman sent Solar Charged straight to the front and she found three lengths turning for home.  The margin kept increasing until she was switched off without a rival in sight.

“She’s been a natural two-year-old from the first time I got on her,” winning jockey Hugh Bowman said.  “I rode her sire Charge Forward and he was only beaten a half-length by Dance Hero in the Golden Slipper.  She’s just like him and hopefully can go one better this year.”

Bowman’s comments echoed those of Corey Brown who had the ride when she clocked a class-record on debut at Randwick in November.  

Brown couldn’t believe his luck.  He was still bubbling 25 days after winning the Melbourne Cup and then along comes the best juvenile he’s ever ridden.  “The top of the ladder by far,” Brown said after her debut.  “We were highballing and she quickened off a hot tempo.  It was amazing.”

Trainer John O’Shea tried to keep a lid on the hype in the lead-up to the Kindergarten.  “There was a fair amount of anticipation going into the race and it was a relief when she confirmed that potential,” O’Shea admitted.  “I decided just to let her do the talking and she did.”

Arrowfield sires dominate the top-end of the Golden Slipper market with Solar Charged at $4.60 followed by Chance Bye ($6), Beneteau ($7), Star Witness ($10) and Shaaheq ($15).

Chance Bye (Snitzel) won the G2 Silver Slipper on February 27 and will go into the Golden Slipper off a 35 day break.  She is one of 6 first crop winners by Snitzel that were conceived at Arrowfield in 2006.

Beneteau (Redoute’s Choice) maintained the third line after it was announced Damien Oliver will take over from apprentice Daniel Ganderton.  He’s slated for a start in the G3 Skyline Stakes at Randwick this Saturday, March 13.

Beneteau was right in the finish of the Blue Diamond and it will be the first chance to line up that form-line in Sydney.

David Hayes really rates this year’s Blue Diamond and he knows what it takes having won it five times.  “I think the form is super,” Hayes explained after watching his filly Shaaheq win the Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes.

Shaaheq (Redoute’s Choice) was coming off a Blue Diamond placing to win the G3 TBV Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Flemington on Super Saturday.  “She’s bomb-proof and is peaking at just at the right time.  She will go straight into the Slipper without another run.”

Redoute’s Choice is part of an elite group of four stallions to have sired multiple winners of both the Blue Diamond and the Golden Slipper.  The others are Danehill, Biscay and Todman.

Blue Diamond winner Star Witness has re-entered Golden Slipper calculations after trainer Danny O’Brien reversed an earlier decision to send him out for a spell.

Star Witness (Starcraft) has thrived in the last fortnight and O’Brien is confident he can become the first youngster to complete the double since Courtza 21 years ago.  “I’ve got a lot of confidence in this colt,” O’Brien said.  “He does things that only top class horses can do.”

Starcraft was an international G1 winner and is now based full time at Arrowfield after a northern season at Cheveley Park in England.

Golden Slipper betting: $4.60 Solar Charged (Charge Forward), $6 Chance Bye (Snitzel), $7 Beneteau (Redoute’s Choice), $10 Military Rose (General Nediym), $10 Star Witness (Starcraft), $13 Ambers Waltz (Danehill Dancer), $13 Elimbari (Fastnet Rock), $13 Zutara (Encosta De Lago), $15 Shaaheq (Redoute’s Choice), $15 Psychologist (Choisir).