While Ciaron Maher has accomplished nearly everything in the racing world, securing a Golden Slipper remains one achievement still eluding him.
Scott Darby, who directs syndication outfit Darby Racing, believes Sweet Embrace Stakes victor Spicy Miss could be the horse to deliver that success at Rosehill this Saturday.
“We did tell him after the Sweet Embrace we could fix that for him,” Darby quipped.
“I’m really happy for Ciaron to have a runner in it as well, and I think we’re a really good show from that barrier (five).”
Purchased for $150,000 as a Magic Millions yearling, Spicy Miss descends from proven sire Trapeze Artist and has shown remarkable reliability, boasting a victory and a pair of runner-up efforts in her three outings.
She was narrowly beaten by Revengeance in the Golden Gift (1100m) back in November, followed a second-place result to Agrarian Girl in the Lonhro Plate (1000m) on February 7, then sat close to the pace before powering home in the Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m).
Spicy Miss enters the $5 million Golden Slipper (1200m) this Saturday following a three-week freshen-up and has secured a prime draw in barrier five, a position that has yielded two winners over the last 18 years: Lady Of Camelot (2023) and Sebring (2008).
Darby previously savored Slipper triumph as the syndicator behind 2017 winner She Will Reign, coming a year after Yankee Rose placed second to Capitalist.
Those fillies approached the race differently, with She Will Reign taking the Silver Slipper (1100m) beforehand, whereas Yankee Rose was resuming, and Darby views Spicy Miss as more akin to the latter.
“Not She Will Reign vibes, more Yankee Rose vibes,” he said.
“She’s got a similar barrier and similar to Yankee Rose, she is very tough.”
The standout efforts of She Will Reign and Yankee Rose in the Golden Slipper solidified Darby Racing’s position among Australia’s top syndicators, and the group marks its 18th year in business.
Subsequently, they have notched major wins including 2023 Coolmore Stud Stakes champion Ozzmosis, dual The Quokka winner Overpass, and recent Newmarket Handicap star Caballus.
In addition to Spicy Miss, Darby Racing’s entries at Rosehill feature Sydney Cup co-favourite Campaldino in the N E Manion Cup (2400m) and Within The Law in the Birthday Card Stakes (1200m), a far cry from the syndicate’s humble beginnings when Darby started offering shares to close friends.
“I was introduced to racing at sixteen and fell into syndication a little bit later by syndicating a few on the side to friends. I didn’t know you needed a licence at that point,” Darby said.
“Darby Racing really took off in 2016, the year Yankee Rose ran second in the Slipper, and then we won it the year later with She Will Reign.
“After that, it was just a huge, upward curve.”
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