Golden Slipper 2020 betting favourite Farnan has suffered an early blow drawing out wide in barrier 14 for Saturday’s $3.5 million feature at Rosehill Gardens.

Farnan is the widely-drawn favourite for Saturday’s 2020 Golden Slipper. Photo: Steve Hart.

The richest race in the world for two-year-olds, the Group 1 Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) is the marquee race of the year for juveniles and features a capacity field of 16 starters plus four emergencies.

Heading the markets for six-time Golden Slipper winning trainer Gai Waterhouse is Not A Single Doubt colt Farnan chasing a third win on the trot.

From five starts he has just the one loss and he has been flying this prep with big wins in the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill and the Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m) at Randwick by a combined five lengths.

Having followed the traditional path into the Golden Slipper field, Farnan is now out to hand Waterhouse her incredible seventh victory and her first since the success of Vancouver (2015).

Five years ago, Vancouver became the latest horse to complete the Todman Stakes – Golden Slipper double that Farnan is out to emulate on Saturday.

The up-and-comer is also looking to break the recent hold of the fillies in the Golden Slipper results with the last three editions having been won by the girls with: She Will Reign (2017), Estijaab (2018) and Kiamichi (2019).

Favourites in Golden Slipper betting have had four wins from 2008-19, with Vancouver the latest.

Hugh Bowman continues his autumn association with Farnan in the Golden Slipper on Saturday, the hoop after his first win in the race, with the duo drawn barrier 14.

Gate 14 has produced the past two Golden Slipper winners, but with the emergencies out Farnan could come into barrier 12.

Last year trainer James Cummings and the powerhouse Godolphin stable scored an upset Golden Slipper success with $26 outside Kiamichi, the filly on the short back-up after winning the Group 2 Magic Night Stakes (1200m) the Saturday prior.

Just when it looked like Cummings would be without a Slipper contender in 2020, last Saturday his Exosphere filly Thermosphere came form nowhere to earn her spot in the race via a boilover victory in the Magic Night Stakes.

Kiamichi did the Magic Night – Golden Slipper double on rain affected tracks last year and this season Thermosphere is out to do the same for the Royal Blue army.

Jockey James McDonald rode Thermosphere to victory in the Magic Night Stakes but is committed to partner the Chris Waller-trained daughter of Frankel, Hungry Heart, in the Golden Slipper this weekend.

Tommy Berry comes aboard the Magic Night winner instead, the hoop after his third Golden Slipper winning ride following previous victories aboard the Waterhouse-trained favourites Overreach (2013) and Vancouver (2015).

As for Hungry Heart, she gives McDonald a shot at another triumph after his win aboard the Team Hawkes-trained Mossfun back in 2014.

Hungry Heart was last seen winning the Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m) at Randwick back in late February and is chasing a double last achieved by Crystal Lily (2010) a decade ago.

Thermosphere is drawn barrier 10 for the Golden Slipper, while Hungry Heart gets her chance from a gun barrier five draw.

Waller is dually represented in the Slipper field this autumn also saddling-up the widely-drawn Global Quest (15), the More Than Ready colt looking to improve on his distant fourth in the Todman Stakes.

The other best out of that key Slipper lead-up is the second placed Blue Diamond Stakes champion Tagaloa.

The Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young-trained Lord Kanaloa colt is looking to repeat the feat Sepoy (2011) who won the Blue Diamond, ran second in the Todman and then took out the Golden Slipper.

Click here for the latest 2020 Golden Slipper odds courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

2020 Golden Slipper Stakes Field & Barrier Draw