The Australian Turf Club (ATC) have received a record 358 second acceptances for the Golden Slipper 2018 running at Rosehill Gardens on March 24 this Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.
2018 Golden Slipper favourite Sunlight is one of 16 second acceptances into the $3.5 million classic for trainer Tony McEvoy. Photo: Steve Hart.
Up from 259 at the same stage last season, there is more interest than ever in the Group 1 $3.5 million Longines Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) – the world’s richest race for two-year-olds.
“The Longines Golden Slipper is a race watched around the world and continues to be the race that shapes the Australian racing and breeding industry like no other,” the ATC’s Joint Acting Chief Executive James Heddo told Racing NSW.
“Last year we saw an incredible story with She Will Reign, a $20,000 purchase that gave her huge syndicate of owners a lifetime of memories. With just nine weeks remaining until the Longines Golden Slipper, the owners and trainers of 358 horses continue to live that same dream.
“The Longines Golden Slipper is Western Sydney’s signature race and we look forward to hosting one of the biggest and best Slipper days in recent times on Saturday 24 March.”
Updated Golden Slipper odds at Ladbrokes.com.au following the second round of declarations remain led by the Tony McEvoy-trained Zoustar filly Sunlight at $6.50.
Chasing a maiden success in the classic, McEvoy has 17 two-year-olds featured in the Golden Slipper Stakes second acceptances.
Sunlight has won three of her four career starts and was last seen scoring an impressive two length victory in the $2 million Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 13.
2018 Golden Slipper Stakes Second Acceptances: Top Trainers / Stables
- David & Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig (27)
- Hawkes Racing (26)
- Mick Price (20)
- Peter & Paul Snowden (20)
- Godolphin (18)
The best represented stable in the Golden Slipper second entries is Lindsay Park with 27, head trainer David Hayes after his second success following his victory in 2006 with Miss Finland.
Among the Lindsay Park Golden Slipper contingent is the undefeated Fastnet Rock colt Long Leaf who races this Saturday in the Listed Blue Diamond Preview for colts and geldings.
In with 16 entries is the race’s six-time winning trainer and Sydney’s leading lady of racing Gai Waterhouse.
Waterhouse, whose latest Golden Slipper winner was Vancouver in 2015, now trains in partnership with Adrian Bott and the team’s contingent features the likes of Group 3 Ottawa Stakes winning Choisir filly Setsuna and Magic Millions 2YO Classic runner-up Terminology.
Challenging Sunlight for favouritism in the futures Golden Slipper betting markets meanwhile is the Chris Waller-trained Performer.
Trainer of the mighty Winx, Waller is yet to take home a Golden Slipper trophy and is in the mix this autumn with eight remaining hopefuls led by his Exceed And Excel colt Performer.
Performer won his debut at Randwick impressively last September saluting in the Listed Breeders Plate (1000m) and is a dual trial winner this month at Rosehill ahead of his new season return.
Last year’s Golden Slipper winning trainer of She Will Reign (2017), Gary Portelli returns chasing successive victories with 13 second acceptors including Secret Lady who has been scratched for Saturday’s Blue Diamond Fillies Preview due to a wide barrier.
2018 Golden Slipper Stakes Second Acceptances: Top Sires
- I Am Invincible (33)
- Snitzel (31)
- Exceed And Excel (21)
- Fastnet Rock (19)
- Pierro (17) – 2012 Golden Slipper winner
- Sebring (2016) – 2008 Golden Slipper winner
Another early standout among the Golden Slipper Stakes second acceptances include recent Randwick winning Snitzel filly Estijaab, one of 26 for Team Hawkes who won back in 2014 with Mossfun.
Co-trainer and Hall of Famer John Hawkes also prepared Guineas (1997) and Forensics (2007) for their Golden Slipper victories.
Check out the full list of Golden Slipper Stakes 2018 Second Acceptances, updated odds for which are now open at Ladbrokes.com.au.
