Slipper Bound Vancouver Remains Undefeated

First-up this campaign after a lone run in the Spring which resulted in victory in Listed Breeders’ Plate, two-year-old Medaglia d'Oro colt Vancouver continued his winning way, recording an impressive victory the G3 Canonbury Stakes at Rosehill.

Leading home a first three for the progeny of the Darley stallions, Vancouver defeated Exceed And Excel debutantes Outreach, a full-brother to G1 Golden Slipper winner Overreach, with Charmel back in third.

The way the race was run, jockey Tommy Berry had the colt settled further back than at his prior start, but this didn't pose any issues as he surged down the outside of the field to record success.

Trainer Gai Waterhouse was clearly over joyed by the victory of the impressive looking colt. “He’s the most exciting colt since Pierro (Lonhro), stated Waterhouse. “He’s on the path to the Golden Slipper.”

The impressive victory saw the colt elevated to favouritism for the G1 Golden Slipper, over Exceed And Excel’s unbeaten pair of Ottoman and Furnaces.

Bred by John Camilleri’s Fairway Thoroughbreds, Vancouner is the third Stakes winner from Danehill’s Listed performer Skates, also the dam of G1 winner Juste Momente and Listed winner Captain Coltish. Skates produced a colt by Lonhro’s G1 Golden Slipper winner Pierro in the Spring and before being covered by Medaglia d’Oro.

With two Australian G3 winners in the space of a week after Java’s victory in the Manfred Stakes, Medaglia d’Oro’s Stakes tally sits at 66 highlighted by 11 G1 winners and he will be represented seven yearlings entered for the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale in March, while at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale in April he will be represented by 12 yearlings.