Champion jockey Jim Cassidy declared the sky was the limit for superbly-bred two-year-old Slater after he scored a debut win at Canterbury on Wednesday.The son of Redoute's Choice out of triple Group One winner Special Harmony ran down the Gai Waterhouse-trained Someday Somehow to win theraces.com.au Handicap (1100m) by half a head.There was 5-1/2 lengths to the third placegetter Smash Hit.Cassidy was immediately impressed when he first rode Slater at Warwick Farm in a trial at the end of last m
Champion jockey Jim Cassidy declared the sky was the limit for superbly-bred two-year-old Slater after he scored a debut win at Canterbury on Wednesday.
The son of Redoute's Choice out of triple Group One winner Special Harmony ran down the Gai Waterhouse-trained Someday Somehow to win theraces.com.au Handicap (1100m) by half a head.
There was 5-1/2 lengths to the third placegetter Smash Hit.
Cassidy was immediately impressed when he first rode Slater at Warwick Farm in a trial at the end of last month and said Wednesday's win was a bonus ahead of the colt's three-year-old season.
"He's bred to be anything and I think he's the real deal," Cassidy said.
"He's got Group One written all over him, if he doesn't win a Group One I will give up."
Slater ($3.30 fav) settled third in the run, just behind the speed set by Someday Somehow ($3.70) who kicked away on the turn and opened up a good break.
Someday Somehow showed greenness in the straight and Slater charged late to grab the filly on the line.
Trainer Chris Waller said Slater had shown plenty of talent right from day one.
Waller will now send the colt for a spell before raising the bar with him as a three-year-old.
"He's a very nice horse," Waller said.
"He'll probably go to the paddock now, that was one of the reasons for running today and taking the punt that he would handle the track because it just means you can get out to the paddock that little bit earlier."
The trainer said he was keen to give Slater every chance to win a good race next season but said the Group One Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on August 28 would come up too soon for him.
"We'd like to have a good crack at something decent as a three-year-old but we're not going to shorten spells or anything like that," Waller said.
"He's a very nice, kind horse and I think he deserves to be given every chance. The three-year-old year is a long year."
The win of Slater came on the same day Waller announced Peter Muscutt would relocate from South Africa to take up the position as his new stable foreman.
Waller said the 49-year-old Muscutt had a wealth of international experience, working in South Africa, Singapore and Dubai, and came highly recommended by many including Sydney trainer David Payne.
Muscutt is expected to begin within the next month.