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By Ray Hickson

Jockey Michael Dee sees no reason why he can’t keep up his Group 1 momentum at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday and ride Little Brose into a piece of history as only the sixth Blue Diamond winner to claim a Golden Slipper.

Michael Dee (Pic: Grant Guy)

It’s been 12 years since Sepoy became the fifth to achieve the two-year-old double and Little Brose’s task has been made easier by the three week gap between the two Group 1s and the fact he’ll only be third-up.

Dee, who won his 10th Group 1 with Espiona in last week’s Coolmore Classic, said the Ben & JD Hayes-trained colt has the right form around him and could still be open to improvement on his Sandown win.

“He’s only had the handful of starts and he’s third-up into the Slipper so he hasn’t had things tough by any means,’’ Dee said.

“He’s done nothing wrong in his whole career so far. We have a good draw which I’m happy about and from all reports he hasn’t gone backwards since the Blue Diamond.

“I know he’s beaten a lot of those horses before and has good form around him. Hopefully he’s improved a little bit more.”

Little Brose, $11 with TAB on Thursday, has a decision over Golden Slipper favourite Cylinder from the Merson Cooper Stakes back in November and Dee said his Blue Diamond win was strong.

It’ll be Dee’s second Slipper ride, having partnered Muntaseera who ran eleventh in 2020, and he’s certain he’s on a live winning chance.

He said Little Brose has the right temperament and given he’s already proven in a high pressure two-year-old race can only hope the breaks go his way as they did a few weeks ago.

“He does everything perfect, he’s a colt but you wouldn’t know it,’’ Dee said.

“He canters to the start and doesn’t turn a hair. He takes everything in and hopefully with a trip away he’ll be the same.

“They’ll go very hard and hopefully he can jump as clean as he did the other day. If we’re midfield or better, wherever he’s comfortable, I’ll be happy.

“He’s pretty quick, in the Blue Diamond he was a little hesitant initially to take the run between the two horses but once he poked his head in he exploded through and was pretty electric.”

Dee has rides in all five Group 1s at Rosehill – Brosnan (Rosehill Guineas), Bankers Choice (Ranvet Stakes), Andermatt (Galaxy) and he reunites with Kiwi mare Levante in the Group 1 $1m The Agency George Ryder Stakes (1500m).

He partnered the six-year-old in 2022 to fourth placings in the Newmarket Handicap and VRC Classic, both at 1200m, but coming off a Group 1 win in New Zealand over a mile he feels Levante will be a worthy rival for Anamoe.

"IT'S HAYES AGAIN!"

LITTLE BROSE WINS THE DIAMOND! @lindsayparkrace pic.twitter.com/ivDxH3SH4e

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) February 25, 2023

“I think 1500m is a much better trip for her,’’ he said.

“The 1200m up the straight in the spring was a bit high pressure for her. She’s coming off the back of winning a Group 1 over 1600m.

“It’s a tough race but hopefully she can be running on strongly at the end.

“She always puts her best foot forward and tries hard, she very rarely runs a bad race.”

Levante, trained by Ken & Bev Kelso, jumps alongside Anamoe in the Ryder and was $21 with TAB on Thursday.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Golden Slipper meeting at Rosehill