Unbeaten Chilly Girl out of Golden Slipper

Widden Stakes winner Chilly Girl has been ruled out of the Golden Slipper due to a minor injury, which has also put paid to any potential autumn consolation plans.

The Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained Trapeze Artist filly has been sent to the spelling paddock less than a fortnight after her dominant Group 3 Widden victory over 1100 metres at Rosehill.

That performance had propelled Chilly Girl into Golden Slipper calculations at $11, but her preparation came to a sudden halt last week when she suffered a minor hamstring issue during trackwork.

Ryan said the decision to spell Chilly Girl was made with the filly’s long-term future in mind, noting that caution was preferable to risking a setback that could compromise her development.

While a potential return for the Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes at Randwick in April was briefly considered, Ryan confirmed the stable opted instead for a full spell, confident the filly would benefit from time and ultimately return as a stronger three-year-old.