Golden Slipper favourite Ottoman headed to the paddock on Sunday with Godolphin left to consider how many starts she may need heading into the $3.5 million classic, reports Racing Network.
Godolphin racing manager Jason Walsh said Ottoman, who raced to $7.50 favouritism for the Slipper on the back of her spectacular debut win in Saturday's TAB Place Multi Bet Plate at Rosehill, could have two starts leading into the Slipper.
Walsh said the Reisling Stakes (1200m), a fortnight before the Slipper, would seem a logical segue into the main event.
But, he said it would be discussed with John O’Shea when he returns from his Canadian break if another run is needed for this daughter of Exceed And Excel.
“We'll discuss if we give her one more before the Reisling as she still has a fair bit to learn,” Walsh said.
“She's quite a smart filly. We had a big opinion of her going into it and it was good to see her get away with it like that.
“You don’t see too many two-year-olds pull that sort of ground off them that late. I think she may have even peaked on her run 100 metres out, but was still tough enough to get by.
“She's a really exciting filly for next year.”
Stablemate Bosnia, who finished a 3½ length second behind Claudia Jean on debut at Flemington, will also be sent for a short spell with Walsh identifying the VRC Sires' Produce as a potential autumn target.
“Craig (Williams) wasn’t unhappy with him, but he said he gave him the feel of a seven-furlong (1400m) horse,” Walsh said.