The prestigious Golden Slipper Stakes is known for instilling a passion and excitement in Australian punters and race enthusiasts that is unique from most other race days. Whether it’s the anticipation of seeing what hoop, thoroughbred and trainer will capture the coveted Golden Slipper trophy, or the excitement of seeing which race attendees will be sporting the most impressive fashions, the Golden Slipper Stakes always generates a dazzling atmosphere at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse every April. Golden Slipper Stakes day is also one of the most highly anticipated racing days for punters, as there are four other Group 1 races on the same day, including the BMW Stakes and Queen of the Turf Stakes. Here are six Golden Slipper tips for race day that you need to know before you place your final wager.
Details About the Golden Slipper Stakes and Golden Slipper Race Day
The Golden Slipper Stakes showcases some of the finest two year old sprinters in the world, which is why the prize money pool available on Golden Slipper Day is an astonishing $3.5 million, making it the richest day in Australian horseracing. The Golden Slipper Stakes is the headline event on Golden Slipper Day, which also sees another four Group 1 events run. This is why tens of thousands of Australian horseracing fans flock to the Rosehill Gardens Racecourse each year to take in the festivities. This year’s race will be held on Saturday, April 5th. Participants will compete over a 1,200-metre track and under set weight conditions. The event is held annually, and is considered a close second to the Melbourne Cup as being the most celebrated race day in the sport.
About the Races Leading up to the Golden Slipper Stakes
Many of the two year old horses, trainers, jockeys and owners who have successful runs at the Golden Slipper Stakes have a history of making appearances at the Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate. Races leading up to the Golden Slipper are used as watermarks to see how the sprinters will perform, and should be viewed as a form guide for Golden Slipper Day punters. Some of the more important races leading up to the Golden Slipper Stakes include the Todman Stakes for geldings and colts, the Pago Pago Stakes, the Reisling Stakes and the Magic Night Stakes for fillies, featuring some of the highest ranked two year old fillies. As an example of how important these lead up races can be, Sepoy, the Golden Slipper winner in 2011, entered and won the race after a huge win in the Todman Stakes. Other Group 1 races that Golden Slipper Stakes participants aim to run in include the Coolmore Stud Stakes and, of course, the famous WS Cox Plate.
Knowing Golden Slipper Stakes History Might Help You Pick a Winner
Over the many years of Golden Slipper Stakes racing, male thoroughbreds seem to have had the edge over their female rivals, winning 12 of the last twenty annual races. Furthermore, just two of the last 10 Golden Slipper Stakes favourites have gone on to win the race. However, there have been some inspiring records set at the race, including jockey R.S Dye’s four consecutive wins from 1989 to 1992 with Courtza, Canny Lad, Tierce and Burst, in that order. Legendary hoop Ron Quinton is also a four-time winner of the Golden Slipper Stakes, winning in 1982, 1983, 1985 and 1987. The world-renowned trainer Tommy J. Smith has won the race with six different horses through the 1970’s and 1980’s. In 2004, Dance Hero recorded the fastest winning time at the Golden Slipper Stakes, when he completed the race in 1 minute, 8.6 seconds. The slowest race time ever recorded for a winner belongs to Canny Lad, who finished in 1 minute, 15.41 seconds in 1990. Over the last 30 years, sprinters running from barriers one through five have won the race 13 times, and in that span barrier one has seen six of those 13 winners. The first Golden Slipper Stakes took place in 1957, when the prize money was 20,000 pounds, a small number compared to today’s huge prize allotment.
The Horses To Watch This Year
The clear favourite of this year’s Golden Slipper is Earthquake, as her accomplished hoop Kerrin McEvoy will be looking to protect their unbeaten streak. TAB Fixed Odds of late have taken some large bets on Earthquake and McEvoy, securing their position as favourites in the race. Despite her seemingly unlimited potential, Earthquake might share the same fate on Golden Slipper Day as Alinghi, who was lined as a $1.70 favourite but ended up running in third in 2004, behind Dance Hero and Charge Forward. The Golden Slipper fixed odds have Massfun and Unencumbered behind Earthquake but ahead of Memorial at $8 and $12 respectively.
Inside Information from This Year’s Top Ranked Trainer
Earthquake’s trainer Peter Snowden has two horses in this race, Earthquake and Memorial, and spoke about the horses competing against each other, saying “One filly, Earthquake, has done it while the other filly, Memorial, has got to do it… Earthquake’s preparation is perfect. The barrier draw (10) isn’t ideal but it doesn’t matter that much as it’s not a big field.”
…and A Bit of Track Knowledge Couldn’t Hurt
The Rosehill Gardens track is known to be a tight turning circuit, favouring on pace runners, but once the rail is moved, track and weather conditions could dramatically affect the pattern of racing for Golden Slipper participants. The start of the 1,200 metre track features a long and straight run to the first turn, and there’s a possibility for horses and their jockeys to win from an outside gate, as the track conditions could give the advantage to horses who do their best sprinting down the centre.
As with any kind of wagering, any kind of edge you can get before you place your bet will make your decision more informed, giving you a better chance at winning big. Golden Slipper Day is one of the most anticipated days for punters, and this guide should prove invaluable to the even most knowledgeable punter, and will give beginners the edge they’ve been looking for. Keep this information on hand when picking your winners at this year’s race and show your fellow punters that doing your homework can prove to be the difference between a big win at the track and a long day wondering why your horse didn’t come through.
