Gai Waterhouse strengthened her Golden Slipper hand when Horizons put in a professional performance to win the Widden Stakes at Randwick and gain compensation for her unlucky run in the Magic Millions.The filly's sixth in the Gold Coast feature had punters wary and she was sent out at $6.50 for Saturday's Listed race with Marquardt the well-supported $2.90 favourite.Hush Up ($41) jumped out clearly in front and took up the running with Horizons parked second and Melito third.The going got tough

Gai Waterhouse strengthened her Golden Slipper hand when Horizons put in a professional performance to win the Widden Stakes at Randwick and gain compensation for her unlucky run in the Magic Millions.

The filly's sixth in the Gold Coast feature had punters wary and she was sent out at $6.50 for Saturday's Listed race with Marquardt the well-supported $2.90 favourite.

Hush Up ($41) jumped out clearly in front and took up the running with Horizons parked second and Melito third.

The going got tough for Hush Up in the straight and Horizons took over and worked to a length win over Melito ($4.40) with Marquardt an unlucky third after copping a bump.

Our Joan Of Arc ($6), who beat Horizons in the Gimcrack Stakes in October, finished fifth after looking a threat on the turn.

Waterhouse is currently holidaying in Switzerland but was clear in her assessment of the race when she phoned Star Thoroughbreds syndicator Denise Martin ahead of the event.

"I don't care if Joan Of Arc or the Queen of England is in the race, Horizons will win," Waterhouse said.

Among the filly's group of owner's are Rob and Astrid Woods whose daughter Rachelle was wearing a red heart-shaped hat auctioned on Waterhouse's website for the Victorian Bushfire Appeal.

Martin syndicated the 2008 Golden Slipper winner Sebring and is looking forward to a repeat dose this time around.

"We always thought she would be a Slipper horse," Martin said.

"Nash Rawiller rode her in a trial early and said she felt like a three-year-old gelding.

"I wasn't worried about the wet track and she did the job."

Trainer Clarry Conners was baffled by the performance of Our Joan Of Arc while the previously unbeaten Phenomenal Lass ($7.50) was found wanting in the final stages and finished sixth of the eight runners.

The Waterhouse-trained More Joyous is the early favourite for the $3.5 million Golden Slipper on April 4 and is scheduled to make her next appearance in the Silver Slipper in two weeks.