The Silver Slipper will be a pivotal race in terms of autumn plans for Shalatin, with trainer Joe Pride still pondering which leg of the two-year-old triple crown will be the best fit.
The rangey colt has shown enormous potential in his two appearances and returns to Rosehill on Saturday for his first outing this year, having been off the scene since finishing second to Sejardan in the Golden Gift in November.
Pride says the youngster is still a work in progress and he is weighing up whether Shalatin is a Golden Slipper (1200m) contender, or if he will appreciate the slightly longer journey of the Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).
“He could be either, he is too lightly raced to determine,” Pride said.
“I thought (Group One-winning sprinter) Terravista was a miler when he was going through the grades. You don’t know until you get them to that higher level.
“But he is a good horse, I know that.”
A minor setback forced Shalatin to miss a scheduled barrier trial at Hawkesbury on February 1 but Pride was able to send him for a hitout at Warwick Farm on Monday and he stretched out nicely to finish fourth in his 805m heat.
He will face some handy competition in the Group 2 Silver Slipper (1100m) where his rivals include Best Of Bordeaux, a scintillating winner of the Canonbury Stakes, and in-form fillies Queen Of The Ball and Cythera.
Regan Bayliss, who combined with Pride to win the Epsom Handicap aboard Private Eye, will partner the youngster from barrier 13 and Pride says Shalatin’s recent setback has not affected his preparation.
“It was a little blood disorder but with babies you just never push them,” he said.”You just get them right and the races will come.
“I’m not an expert on two-year-old form but I’ve got a really good horse and I’m confident he is going to run well.”