"Legitimate reason": Golden Slipper dream still alive for Incognito

The Golden Slipper dream remains alive for million-dollar colt Incognito in the wake of his shock showing in Saturday's Canonbury Stakes at Rosehill Gardens.

Resuming on the strength of his slashing Breeders' Plate success last October, the son of 2021 Slipper hero Stay Inside was expected to further solidify his claims for the world's richest race for two-year-olds in the Group 3 feature.

But after looming large at the 250 metre mark, Incognito, which started as an even money favourite, faded late, finishing fifth in the six horse field behind $1.7m colt Hidrix.

Upon returning to scale, jockey Tommy Berry told trainer Michael Freedman the horse had made a "gargling noise" pulling up, suggesting he may have flicked his palate which in turn caused respiratory issues.

Owner James Harron said further veterinary advice had supported that conclusion which now has connections taking a glass half full approach to their Golden Slipper aspirations.

"The good news is that we've got a legitimate reason for the performance on Saturday," Harron said.

"Tommy does everything with the horse and knows him inside and out and told me he was super confident at the 300m mark and was travelling with a lap full of horse.

"Naturally what happened late came as a bit of a shock but what would have been worse was not having something to fix and some answers."

Harron said all things being equal, Incognito will head towards the Group 2 Silver Slipper (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on February 21 in a bid to get his Golden Slipper aspirations back on track.

"He ate up last night and has been checked over by the vets and we've got a happy and healthy horse," Harron said.

"Having spoken to people today, when they displace their palate it can impact 30 per cent of their airway which is obviously crucial under pressure.

"Michael will look at a tongue tie and a tongue control bit with him now and work out what's best moving forward.

"The silver lining is that it's happened now and we've got time to manage it rather than in a few weeks' time.

"He's already a Breeders' Plate winner with prize money in the bank so it makes it a bit easier.

"Right now the plan is still the Silver Slipper in three weeks time."

Incognito headed into Saturday's Canonbury Stakes as an $8 equal favourite for the Golden Slipper but was wheeled out to $26 in the race aftermath.

It was a different story for winner Hidrix, firming into an $8 equal favourite after as much as $201 was offered in the lead up to his racetrack debut.

Yet despite the setback, Harron, who owned 2016 Golden Slipper winner Capitalist, isn't giving up on his star colt's Slipper aspirations.

"We know the talent the colt has – he's a weapon," Harron said.

"Tommy called me after he worked him last Saturday week and said it'd take a really good one to beat him (in the Canonbury).

"Yesterday was a setback but he's in the right hands with Michael and his team.

"Everything we saw for the first 900 metres was what we wanted to see yesterday, he really looked to be travelling.

"We've got some answers for what happened late and I'm sure we'll see a different horse in three weeks time."