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Begg's Slipper hopes on the line

Wednesday 10 March 2010
By Mandy Cottell

Grahame Begg could find himself with two Golden Slipper runners if talented juveniles Ilovethiscity and Mafia Miss win their key lead-up races on Saturday.

While both are still maidens, they have shown enough potential to be given the chance to earn a spot in next month's $3.5 million race.

Ilovethiscity will take on a small but quality field of six rivals in the Group Three Skyline Stakes while Mafia Miss will line up in the Sweet Embrace Stakes for fillies, both over 1200 metres.

"We'll take it how it comes. If they can progress to the Slipper and their form warrants it, then we'll go down that path," Begg said.

Ilovethiscity has finished second at his only two starts but was arguably unlucky not to win his debut after striking interference over the final stages.

He was third past the post, a long neck behind dead-heaters Zutara and Third Man, but was promoted to second on protest.

Race winner Zutara, who will be among Mafia Miss' rivals in the Sweet Embrace, is considered a serious Slipper contender and is on the eighth line of TAB Sportsbet markets at $15.

Ilovethiscity then bumped into Slipper second favourite Chance Bye in the Inglis Classic and was doing his best work late to finish 3-1/2 lengths from the filly.

"They are good form lines," Begg said.

"He didn't know what he was doing at his first start and he was only narrowly beaten.

"Against Chance Bye, it was a trot up front then a sprint home and his sectionals were similar to the winner's.

"He's trained on since the Inglis Classic and he had a bit of `R and R' at the farm after it, which has done him the world of good."

Ilovethiscity has not raced since the Inglis Classic on January 23 while Mafia Miss has had two runs this campaign following her slashing debut second to Gybe in the Gimcrack Stakes last spring.

She tried hard first-up but couldn't run down leader Georgette Silk on a wet track in the Widden Stakes then missed a place for the first time when fifth to Chance Bye in the Silver Slipper.

From a nice barrier in three on Saturday and the promise of a genuine tempo, Begg expects Mafia Miss to get her chance.

"She's drawn a better gate this time, last start she was three-wide and on a leader-biased track so her run was okay," he said.

"I can see her getting a better run this time and horses like Crystal Lily, Gai's filly My Amelia, Dove Lake and La Remlap should roll forward."

A final field of 11 fillies were paid up for the Sweet Embrace on Wednesday including Solar Charged's stablemate Ambers Waltz.