Sires Produce Stakes Tips - Slipper form to hold up in the Sires Produce Stakes on Day One of The Championships at Randwick

Here is our preview of the $1 million race. 

A field of 10 have accepted for the Sires Produce Stakes’ and it is the Golden Slipper (1200m) runners, Wodeton and Rivellino, that head the market with Wodeton holding slight favouritism. 

Wodeton was a fraction unlucky when runner-up in the worlds richest race for the youngsters, going 8.1 lengths faster than standard benchmark. Rivellino tasted defeat for the first time in his short career and was 4th. 

The Kris Lees-trained galloper ran into brick walls from the 350m to the 200m, producing the second fastest last 200m behind Wodeton. Bellzaine also comes out of the Golden Slipper, leading before tiring into 8th position. 

Vinrock and State Visit are others in single figure odds. Vinrock comes in with the best last start benchmark figures of any runner after his performance to take out the Victorian Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) at Flemington. 

He has won his two starts by a combined margin of more than five lengths and looks the real deal. State Visit was back in a slowly run Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) before running 3rd and is one that will like the step to the 1400m. 

Of the others, Prestige Forever comes in with a nice win under the belt at Moonee Valley. Federalist creates a bit of interest. The Hawkes galloper is out of Arcadia Queen and was luckless behind Buffalo on debut at Newcastle. 

Vinrock and Bellazaine to take up the running with the Victorian (Vinrock) a chance to set up a solid tempo. He maintained slick sectionals over the 1400m at Flemington and is the only horse in the race to have started over the distance. Prestige Forever might tuck in behind those two. Rivellino draws barrier 6 and might push up to find a spot. Wodeton is likely to head back. 

I like what Vinrock has been doing in Victoria but the Golden Slipper form is the tried and true reference for this race. Wodeton and Rivellino had their excuses in the Slipper but I liked the way Wodeton closed off over that last 200m when missing out on a big payday for connections by a very narrow margin. The son of Wooton Basset came home with the fastest last 200m and with Ryan Moore in the saddle he will be very hard to hold out this time around. 

They are an even bunch of two-year-olds this year and while Federalist is completely unproven, his form does tie in with Buffalo, who was luckless behind the likes of Tentyris and Wodeton in the Todman Stakes. At Newcastle, he looked to have a bit to offer but never saw daylight at the business end. This is a step up but there is a drop off after the first three in the market and with a clear crack at them he is one to keep an eye on.