The world’s richest juvenile race on turf, the $5m Golden Slipper, will be run and won on Saturday at Rosehill Gardens. On an action packed day of racing, featuring four other Group 1 events, the set weights feature is without a doubt the headline act, with a capacity field of two-year-olds set to greet the starter in a bid to take out the prestigious 1200m contest and have their name etched into the history books of this great race.
Looking at the market, Dabble has Cylinder favourite at $3.90, after his last start Todman Stakes victory. Unbeaten Coolmore filly, Learning To Fly, is on the second line of betting at $7.00, ahead of King’s Gambit at $9.00. At this stage these three are the only runners in single figures, with Little Brose, Don Corleone and Red Resistance next best at $10.
However, we know anything can happen in this great game we call horse racing, and the Golden Slipper isn’t exactly the easiest race to win. So, we have dissected each of the horses’ chances for you and provided our horse racing tips! Read on below to find our runner by runner preview of the 2023 Golden Slipper along with The Shark’s best tips.
1. Little Brose (5) – $10
Jockey – Michael Dee 56.5kg
Trainer – Ben & JD Hayes
Chased home Barber first up at Sandown before turning the tables at his next start in the Blue Diamond Stakes. If that form isn’t good enough, he also beat race favourite, Cylinder, last prep at Caulfield in good style. He’s drawn to get a gun run here from the good draw and nobody is riding better than Michael Dee. Price looks ludicrous.
🚨 TRACK UPDATE 🚨
The latest track conditions with Shaun Patterson and @betdevine at #RosehillGardens ahead of the @longines #GoldenSlipper 🏆@tabcomau | @racing_nsw | @SkyRacingAU | @7horseracing
⛅️ ATC Weather Tracker: https://t.co/kUtjvi6mRJ pic.twitter.com/MEOuwZ2mfQ
— Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) March 15, 2023
2. Barber (8) – $18
Jockey – Nash Rawiller 56.5kg
Trainer – James Cummings
Won two from two at his first racing preparation before returning in good style at Sandown first up beating Little Brose. He then failed to fire behind that galloper in the Blue Diamond, despite being beaten less than three lengths. He comes back to Sydney for this, where he’s unbeaten, and has drawn ideally with Nash on. Hard to sack him off one poor run and could easily make amends if he finds his best form.
3. Arkansaw Kid (13) – $41
Jockey – Jye McNeil 56.5kg
Trainer – Ben & JD Hayes
Had no luck first up in the Inglis Millennium before bobbing up in the Blue Diamond last start at big odds. Gets a set of winkers on for the first time here but has drawn a sticky gate and will need some luck. Not out of it but feel others may have his measure.
4. Don Corleone (6) – $10
Jockey – Hugh Bowman 56.5kg
Trainer – Peter & Paul Snowden
Brilliant winner on debut at Randwick beating Kundalini, before failing to fire at his next start in the Pierro Plate. Was then sent south of the border, where he charged through the line to finish second in the Blue Diamond last start. Draws well here, gets Bowman on and has to be given a big hope off the back of his latest effort. Looks to be one of the main hopes.
5. Cylinder (3) – $3.90F
Jockey – James McDonald 56.5kg
Trainer – James Cummings
Finished second to Fire Lane and Little Brose in two runs at his first prep, before resuming with a bang in the Silver Slipper first up. He backed that up with a strong win last start in the Todman Stakes, which is usually a good form reference for this. He’s drawn well, McDonald sticks with him and he wears the royal blue colours of Godolphin. Plenty to like.
Here it is, the barrier draw for Saturday’s $5m Longines Golden Slipper, the world’s richest two-year-old race👇 pic.twitter.com/y6eIZoEqEa
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) March 14, 2023
6. Red Resistance (17) – $10
Jockey – Brett Prebble 56.5kg
Trainer – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Beat Steel City on debut before causing an upset in the Canonbury at start two. Finally found one better last start in Cylinder, but was only beaten 0.7L. Has the right form on paper to be competitive here but the barrier draw absolutely stinks. Wouldn’t mind betting the instructions are to lead at all costs but how much will that take out of him? The last 100m will be the test.
7. Shinzo (1) – $14
Jockey – Ryan Moore 56.5kg
Trainer – Chris Waller
Regally bred colt who was good at his first couple without winning, before a brilliant victory last Saturday in the Pago Pago at this track/ trip. Won’t spend a penny from the inside gate and gets star international hoop, Ryan Moore, in the saddle. Will need a bit of luck in the straight, but can make it two in a row if the breaks go his way.
8. King’s Gambit (7) – $9.00
Jockey – Mark Zahra 56.5kg
Trainer – Peter & Paul Snowden
Made mincemeat of his opposition at Caulfield on debut, before going down as an odds on favourite first up in the Canonbury Stakes. Was sent out favourite again last start, when chasing home Cylinder and Platinum Jubilee. May have lost a few fans of late but his last run was quite good, as was his recent trial at Randwick. Should get a nice run from the gate and can make amends here.
9. Empire Of Japan (2) – $91
Jockey – Sam Clipperton 56.5kg
Trainer – Peter & Paul Snowden
Started favourite in the Magic Millions off the back of some solid form, but failed to fire when finishing sixth. His most recent effort in the Todman was just fair. Looked a star early doors but needs to find some of that old form if he’s to win this. Willing to risk despite the good draw.
10. Learning To Fly (4) – $6.50
Jockey – Chad Schofield 54.5kg
Trainer – Annabel Neasham
Second of the Coolmore owned runners who is unbeaten in three starts. She beat Steel City on debut before taking out the $2m Inglis Millennium at Randwick. Had to dig deep last start when ridden upside down but held off the challenge of Facile. Will appreciate a more genuine tempo here and should get a lovely run from the gate. By far her toughest test to date but can make it four from four and become a Group 1 winner.
It’s a thumbs up from the team in the office 👍🏻
Barrier 4 for LEARNING TO FLY in the Golden Slipper 💫 pic.twitter.com/6PwAYQEETL
— Annabel Neasham Racing (@ANeashamRacing) March 14, 2023
11. Platinum Jubilee (11) – $18
Jockey – Tim Clark 54.5kg
Trainer – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Sprouted wings on debut to win the Gimcrack at Randwick before finishing runner up behind Fire Lane and again Skirt The Law in the Magic Millions. Led them up last start in the Silver Slipper and gave Cylinder a run for his money, going down just 0.5L. Had a recent trial in blinkers, which she’ll wear here for the first time, and looked sharp. Can race on the speed or take a sit and be effective, and has to be considered an each-way chance.
12. Blanc De Blanc (12) – $26
Jockey – Damian Lane 54.5kg
Trainer – Michael Freedman
Ran on well first up in the Inglis Millennium before finishing close up again in the Sweet Embrace behind Lazzago. Got back again last Saturday in the Magic Night and finished off well, despite being no match for Steel City. Talented filly who doesn’t know how to run a bad race and can be competitive again. Place hope.
13. Exploring (9) – $61
Jockey – Brenton Avdulla 54.5kg
Trainer – James Cummings
Third of the blue army runners who was ok last start in the Blue Diamond when racing on the speed. Her win prior was solid in the Blue Diamond Prelude for the fillies. Will be ridden on speed again from the middle draw here but there looks plenty of pressure up front and others look to have better closing bursts. Willing to risk.
14. Lazzago (10) – $31
Jockey – Kerrin McEvoy 54.5kg
Trainer – Chris Waller
Won well on debut at Randwick in December last year and was given plenty of compliments by trainer C J Waller in the post race interview. She resumed in the Inglis Millennium, where she raced well but was found wanting late, before a strong win in the Sweet Embrace last start. Will let those drawn to her inside go early and should be charging home again late in the piece. Not out of it.
Final touches on the iconic @longines #GoldenSlipper trophy 🏆
Silversmith, David Russ has been making the trophy for the last 10 years and makes the trip up from Melbourne himself with the trophy! 👏
🎟️ Tickets: https://t.co/QyVqC65qJJ#GoldenSlipper #WhereStoriesAreMade pic.twitter.com/OwYgNZyfHD— Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) March 15, 2023
15. Steel City (15) – $17
Jockey – Regan Bayliss 54.5kg
Trainer – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Chased home Red Resistance and Learning To Fly before finishing down the track in the Blue Diamond, where she saw nothing but backsides. Made amends last Saturday with a sizzling win in the Magic Night Stakes here at Rosehill. Barrier draw isn’t ideal and this is much tougher than last Saturday, but she has plenty of class and can figure in the finish with luck.
16. Facile (14) – $41
Jockey – Ryan Maloney 54.5kg
Trainer – Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou
Gutsy filly who hasn’t been far away at her four starts to date without winning. Went head and head with Learning To Fly all the way to the line last start, only to be beaten on the line. Will need a bit of luck early from the wide draw but isn’t hopeless and is probably over the odds in comparison to some of the others here.
17e. Militarize (16) – $91
Jockey – N/A 56.5kg
Trainer – Chris Waller
Good win from the back on debut at Canterbury before a solid effort last start behind race favourite Cylinder. Gate no help here and bred to get over further but has shown enough at this trip to be competitive if he gains a start.
Final Word
Grand final day has arrived for this capacity field of two-year-olds and what a lineup we have. There looks to be plenty of early pressure on paper, as expected in a large field of youngsters, and barriers/ luck in running could play a major role in the final result.
The Golden Slipper is wide open! Who takes it? 🏆 pic.twitter.com/kWfpJIHja1
— TAB (@tabcomau) March 15, 2023
Found it very hard to single one runner out but have landed on Learning To Fly. She’s got plenty of class, but with that, plenty of guts and will to win, as we saw last start in the Group 2 Reisling Stakes. She will appreciate a more genuine tempo and a colder ride with cover here, and will be strong at the end of the 1200m.
Blue Diamond winner, Little Brose, is a ridiculous price here. He was good first up behind Barber before a dominant victory at Group 1 level last start. He’s drawn well again, should get a nice run in transit and in-form hoop, Michael Dee, sticks. Plenty to like, including the price on offer.
No knock on the favourite Cylinder. His two wins this prep have been tradesman-like and he’s drawn to get a gun run. McDonald would’ve had the choice of a few rides here and has decided to stick with him. Stablemate, Barber, can improve back to Sydney. He too should get a nice run from the good draw and will benefit from the vigour of Nash on board.
Respect Don Corleone, Shinzo, King’s Gambit and Lazzago, who all have winning chances and must be included in exotics.
Golden Slipper Tip
10. Learning To Fly – Each-way ($7.00/$2.50)
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*Odds correct at time of writing, courtesy of Dabble.
