Gai Waterhouse could have a quarter of the Golden Slipper field if New Day Rising wins Saturday's Pago Pago Stakes.Waterhouse already has the favourite More Joyous as well as Horizons and Manhattan Rain safely in the 16-horse field.New Day Rising has had one start for a win over 1100 metres at Canterbury on March 11.The colt was one of 14 entries for the Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) while 20 fillies were nominated for the Magic Night Stakes.The races represent the last chances to qualify for the $3.

Gai Waterhouse could have a quarter of the Golden Slipper field if New Day Rising wins Saturday's Pago Pago Stakes.

Waterhouse already has the favourite More Joyous as well as Horizons and Manhattan Rain safely in the 16-horse field.

New Day Rising has had one start for a win over 1100 metres at Canterbury on March 11.

The colt was one of 14 entries for the Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) while 20 fillies were nominated for the Magic Night Stakes.

The races represent the last chances to qualify for the $3.5 million Golden Slipper (1200m) on April 4 with the winners of both races automatically in the race.

Other borderline cases can earn prizemoney to boost their chances.

Gary Portelli has Sheeznodoubt in the fillies event and Delago Bolt and Romanus in the male division.

Black Opal Stakes winner Delago Bolt was entered as a safeguard but is scheduled to run in a barrier trial on Friday instead.

Portelli's ambitions for Romanus extend well beyond his two-year-old season and he sees the Pago Pago as a valuable stepping stone.

"I don't know if he is really a Slipper horse but to win a Group Two race with him at this stage would be great for him and his future," Portelli said.

"If he happened to win and win well then we would go to the Slipper but I think he is more of a Sires Produce-Champagne Stakes type of horse.

"But those races are looking like being very strong so if he is going to win a Group race this preparation, this might be the one.

"If Sheeznodoubt can run out a strong 1200 metres then obviously we have to look at the Slipper."

By Encosta De Lago out of Victorian Oaks winner Bulla Borghese, Romanus won a 1200 metre race on a heavy Rosehill track on February 21 then ran third to Manhattan Rain in the Skyline Stakes.

Blue Diamond Stakes winner Reward For Effort was also entered for the Pago Pago but he too is scheduled to run in a Friday trial.

While Reward For Effort and Melbourne filly Rostova will contest an 800m heat against their own age group, Delago Bolt will be up against Hot Danish and Light Fantastic over 1200 metres.