Five Things We Learned from the Golden Slipper

Tara Madgwick - Monday March 26
It's still the richest juvenile race in the world and has a profound influence over the Australian breeding industry so what did we take from the 2018 Group I ATC Golden Slipper.

1/ Snitzel the Super Sire. He sired the dam of the 2014 Golden Slipper winner Mossfun and this year got the winner Estijaab in his own right capping a remarkable season that will see the Arrowfield Stud based son of Redoute's Choice break all previous seasonal prizemoney records by light years, his current total an astonishing $21.8 million.



Ironically, Snitzel was not the champion first season sire of his generation with that honour afforded another Redoute's Choice son in Stratum, who sired a Golden Slipper winner in his very first crop in Crystal Lily.

Turning 16 this year, Snitzel is at the height of his powers in the sale ring and on the track. For the record he ran 12th in the Golden Slipper of his year won by Stratum, so if your colt finished down the track this year, take heart.

2/ Expensive Yearlings. Estijaab is flying the flag for the top end of town showing that sometimes expensive yearlings really are worth the money.

A $1.7 million Inglis Easter Yearling purchase, she is the equal fifth most expensive yearling sired by Snitzel and is his second dearest filly. 



Parallels can be drawn between Estijaab and the Hawkes trained filly Forensics, who won the Golden Slipper for them in 2007 carrying the cerise of the Ingham family. She was the most expensive yearling at that time sired by Flying Spur having been bought for $900,000 at Inglis Easter by Woodlands Stud from the Arrowfield Stud draft.

3/ Team Hawkes. Winning the Golden Slipper is not about luck, it's about skill, planning and the ability to identify a natural two year-old and then train it accordingly.



The reality is that certain trainers are better at it than others and Team Hawkes are among the best, John Hawkes winning with Guineas and Forensics and his training partnership with sons Michael and Wayne successful with Mossfun and now Estijaab.

4/ Best Colt. Blue Diamond winner Written By was a close up fourth and the first colt home this year chasing Estijaab and two other top class fillies in Oohood (Australia's best maiden, read about here here) and Sunlight.



Champion sire Fastnet Rock was fourth in a red hot Slipper won by Dance Hero with Charge Forward second and Alinghi third, so there is no disgrace in being beaten by the best.

5/ Sweet Revenge. Charge Forward wasn't quite good enough to win his Slipper, but he was the first colt home and has gained redemption as the sire of the dam of Estijaab and also last year's winner She Will Reign, not to mention this year's third place-getter Sunlight.



That's probably not a fluke, Charge Forward was a fast precocious sprinter with a diverse pedigree free of Danehill blood. He's an electric presence in a pedigree and his daughters will now be valued highly if they weren't already.




Advertisment
More Reading...
2025 Cox Plate Entries – Who are the 3YO Cox Plate Dreamers?
108 entries have been received for the 2025 Group I MVRC Cox Plate (2040m) to be run on October 25 with a galaxy of stars that include 11 overseas contenders and a group of new season 3YO’s.
G2 Winning Mare chasing G1 Success
Classy mare Val Di Zoldo will have the opportunity to test her talents at the highest level this term after resuming with a tidy trial at Taupo on Monday.
Zoustar 7YO on Comeback Trail
Joliestar is not the only good Zoustar carrying the colours of Cambridge Stud as Lance Noble has his eye on a major early season prize with one of the few older members of his stable.
Aussie Globetrotting Mare Now Calls Woodside Home
Woodside Park have released a list of their quality mares set to visit new recruit Celestial Legend this spring and one of them is Aussie bred Group II winner Nafaayes, who produced a promising 2YO winner overnight in the UK.
Road to the Caulfield Cup Starts Here
An exciting field is beginning to take shape for Caulfield’s biggest day, with nominations now closed for the 149th edition of the $5 million Sportsbet Caulfield Cup. The countdown is officially on for 146 hopefuls and their connections chasing Cup glory.  
First foal Arrives for Mo’Unga
The Kelly family of Newhaven Park have taken an educated gamble on champion New Zealand sire Savabeel and have already struck paydirt with exciting young sire Cool Aza Beel siring Group I winning 2YO Cool Archie and now it’s time for Mo’Unga to make his mark.
Olentia Sells for $2.6million to top MM August Virtual
Group II winning Zoustar mare Olentia was always seen as the likely sale-topper of the Magic Millions August Virtual Sale and she duly sparked interest with Olly Tait of Twin Hills Stud securing the mare on behalf of his international client Wathnan Racing for $2.6million.
Zoustar's Breeders Cup Winner Starlust Arrives at Riverstone
Zoustar’s Breeders Cup winner Starlust has arrived at his new home, Riverstone Lodge in the Hunter Valley with the stud posting video of his arrival.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday August 5
Here is the full list of 24 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Breednet Distance Sire Tables Highlight Some Home Truths
The end of season is a great time to look back and assess what has happened in terms of sire results and what may happen in the future and more importantly what all of that might mean for Australian racing.