TOP class two-year-olds Dubious and Loving Gaby are entering unknown territory when they run in the $3.5 million Golden Slipper at Rosehill on Saturday.
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Trainer Ciaron Maher is happy with the race fitness of both his star gallopers in the lead up to the richest two-year-old race in the world, but he is very wary about the result.
Rosehill has a heavy track rating after plenty of rain during the week but come race time Maher thinks the track may have a soft seven rating.
"I'm really happy with Dubious and Loving Gaby," Maher, who trains in partnership with David Eustace, said.
"They both worked well on heavy ground on Tuesday morning at Warwick Farm. They seemed to handle the track very well but it's all different in a race.
"There young horses and you just are unsure how they will handle the race pressure in those sort of conditions. It's a top class field of two-year-olds and you expect that for this sort of money.
"I really can't split my two horses. They both have tricky barriers. Both horses have different racing patterns Dubious should be running on the pace, while Loving Gaby is a get back horse. I'm hoping she's not too far back in the run."
Maher also saddles up his top jumping prospect Big Blue in the $160,000 Manion Cup on the flat over 2000 metres at Rosehill.
Big Blue has been set for the Galleywood Hurdle on the middle day of the Warrnambool May Carnival.
Victoria's main meeting on Saturday is at Mornington with the running of the $350,000 Mornington Cup, the feature race on the nine race program.
Warrnambool trainer Simon Ryan runs Tarquin in the 2400-metre race while Jarrod McLean accepted with Trap For Fools.
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