Glory awaits this weekend with the running of arguably the most important race on the Australian racing calendar. The breed shaping Golden Slipper is the nations answer to our almost unquenchable thirst for 2yo speed and precocity.
With an honour roll as long as the Eiffel Tower, the slipper has been won by some true champions of the turf, many who have gone on to become household names in the breeding ranks. The likes of Todman, Vain, Baguette, Luskin Star, Marscay, Marauding, Rory’s Jester, Flying Spur, Canny Lad, Catbird, Stratum, Sebring, Pierro & Capitalist to name a few have all gone on to be hugely successful sires after winning the worlds richest 2yo race, it really is remarkable.
This year’s rendition is the best in years, each horse worthy of a participation award at the very least, but there can only be one winner.
With ultra strong representation from some new kids on the block the implications of a slipper winner for sire success will be long lasting. Justify, Alabama Express, Written By, Exceedance, Pierata, Royal Meeting & Tassort will all be chomping at the bit at the chance to upstage the old marvels I Am Invincible, Snitzel, Exceed and Excel, Zoustar & Written Tycoon in the race that shapes the nation.
From the damsire point of view it is the familiar few, the tried and tested, the stalwarts of the game that hold representation, Fastnet Rock, Exceed & Excel, Snitzel, Lonhro, I Am Invincible, O’reilly, Commands, Redoutes Choice, Zoustar, Northern Meteor, Bel Esprit and the great Street Cry.
What a race, what an event, some serious names throughout history and come Saturday yet another to be carved in stone.
No – Horse (Sire) – Trainer – Jockey – Barrier – Weight
1 – STORM BOY (Justify(USA) – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott – Ryan Moore – 2 – 56.5kg
2 – FULLY LIT (Hellbent) – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott – Sam Clipperton – 1 – 56.5kg
3 – SHANGRI LA EXPRESS (Alabama Express)– Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott – Regan Bayliss – 3 – 56.5kg
4 – RUE DE ROYALE (Per Incanto (USA)– Tony and Calvin McEvoy – Chad Schofield – 14 – 56.5kg
5 – TRAFFIC WARDEN (Street Boss (USA)– James Cummings – Craig Williams – 6 – 56.5kg
6 – STRAIGHT CHARGE (Written By) – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott – Tim Clark – 9 – 56.5kg
7 – SWITZERLAND (Snitzel)– Chris Waller – James McDonald– 7 – 56.5kg
8 – BODYGUARD (I Am Invincible)– Peter and Paul snowden – Mark Zahra – 10 – 56.5kg
9 – DUBLIN DOWN (Exceedance)– Tony & Calvin McEvoy – Hugh Bowman – 13 – 56.5kg
10 – COLEMAN (Pierata)– Matt Laurie – Kerrin McEvoy– 4 – 56.5kg
11 – HOLMES A COURT (Capitalist) – Peter & Paul Snowden – Tom Marquand – 8 – 56.5kg
12 – PROST (Snitzel) – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott – Adam Hyeronimus – 11 – 56.5kg
13 – HAYASUGI (Royal Meeting (IRE) – Clinton McDonald– Jamie Kah – 16 – 54.5kg
14 – LADY OF CAMELOT (Written Tycoon) – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott – Blake Shinn – 5 – 54.5kg
15 – MANAAL (Tassort)– Michael Freedman – Jason Collett– 17 – 54.5kg
16 – ENEEZA (Exceed and Excel)– Peter G Moody and Katherine Coleman – Damian Lane – 15 – 54.5kg
17 EMG – ESPIONAGE (Zoustar)– Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott – Tommy Berry – 12 – 56.5kg
