"Vancouver won last year from a wide gate," he said. "This horse has got natural speed. He's in great order. He'll need a 10/10 ride from James [McDonald]."
Slipper favourite Extreme Choice ($2.80) drew well in barrier 7, while stablemate Flying Artie firmed from $6 to $5 after drawing barrier 5.
"It's the first time he's drawn a good barrier," trainer Mick Price said of Flying Artie, before confirming the colt was likely to be ridden more forward in the 1200m dash.
Extreme Choice, who worked impressively at Rosehill yesterday, held firm in betting.
"I think they're the best two colts in the race," Price said. "They will be very hard to beat, both of them." Price insists there isn't much between the stablemates after taking into account Flying Artie's luckless Blue Diamond run.
One-time Slipper favourite Capitalist was another winner from the draw, snaring gate 2. Gai Waterhouse's pair, Kiss And Make Up (9) and Scarlet Rain (16), had mixed fortunes.
Quick Feet, one of three runners for Peter and Paul Snowden, has drawn the rails.
Extreme Choice will race for new owners in the Slipper with Newgate Farm securing his stud future in a multimillion-dollar deal. Newgate's partners include the China Horse Club with Craig Newitt to wear their red and yellow colours when he rides Extreme Choice in the Slipper.
Meanwhile, trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman will unleash Turn Me Loose in the George Ryder Stakes (1500m) on Saturday where he meets top mare Winx while Mongolian Khan tackles the Ranvet Stakes (2000m).
-Daily Telegraph, Sydney, AAP
