Gai Waterhouse declares Whittington a Golden Slipper contender Nash Rawiller chats with Gai Waterhouse after his win on in the Lonhro Plate on Whittington. GAI Waterhouse declared Whittington the best two-year-old colt in Sydney and strengthened her bid for a fifth Golden Slipper after his determined win in the $100,000 1100m scamper at Warwick Farm yesterday. "Whittington is an outstanding chance in the Golden Slipper," she declared. He will go straight into the Slipper now, he doesn't need another race. I feel he is the best colt in Sydney. These Breeders' Plate winners always perform well in the autumn and this colt has done nothing but improve. He's a well put together two-year-old, he's strong and determined and that is what you need in a Slipper horse. Whittington ($3.30 favourite) sat on the speed to the turn and held off the determined challenge of Va Pensiero ($4) to win by a long neck with first starter Le Cordon Bleu ($12) a length away third. Waterhouse, who has won Golden Slippers with Ha Ha (2001), Dance Hero (2004), Sebring (2008) and Pierro (2012), is developing a powerful team for the world's richest juvenile race at Rosehill on April 6. Whittington (purple silks white stars) ridden to victory in the Lonhro Plate by Nash Rawiller Picture: Adam Taylor Whittington is now safely into the field alongside Silver Slipper winner Sweet Idea while brilliant filly Overreach remains favourite for the $3.5 million Golden Slipper. "Overreach will run again probably in the Reisling Stakes in two weeks but Sweet Idea and Whittington will go straight into the race," Waterhouse confirmed. I once had five runners in the Golden Slipper and I'm hoping we can qualify two or three more in the weeks ahead. Whittington was bought by Denise Martin's Star Thoroughbreds for $130,000 at last year's Magic Millions Yearling Sale. This was the same price Martin paid for Sebring, winner of the Breeders' Plate-Golden Slipper double five years ago. "Gai has had the Golden Slipper in mind for Whittington since he won the Breeders' Plate," Martin said. Whittington's effort was outstanding as Va Pensiero had the drop on him from the turn. "He was there to be beaten but he found plenty under pressure," jockey Nash Rawiller said. This colt is getting better with racing. I was hoping he could be my Golden Slipper ride and today he put his 'hand' up. He's still on the way up; that wasn't his best performance and he has more to come. The most impressive part of his win was the last few strides. He dug deep and was holding them easily on the line. Christian Reith, rider of Va Pensiero, said his colt ran well but was looking for 1200m.