from 'The Australian'


"Perfect ... he will be very competitive from there," said Waterhouse of Sebring's draw.

"And he won't mind it if this weather keeps up."

Indeed, when he won on debut in January, Sebring was strong on a slow track, beating Slipper rivals Over The Wicket (gate seven) and Sidereus (gate two) into the minor placings.

With heavy rain on Sunday and little chance of the track drying out after two overcast days since, Rosehill had an official reading late yesterday bordering on heavy, with showers to persist throughout the week.

The Slipper has only twice been decided on a heavy track, the first time in 1963 when postponed from a Saturday to the following Wednesday. That race was won by the Adelaide colt Pago Pago, a late entry.

Adelaide trainer Leon Macdonald had just the one word, "excellent", when his unbeaten filly Augusta Proud drew gate one, which trimmed her price to $9 (second favourite).

And perhaps an appropriate draw, too, matching the 111111- record the filly has in her six starts to date.

Augusta Proud will attempt to boost the best winning barrier record; seven Slipper winners have jumped from gate one.