The world’s richest race for two-year-olds lights up Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, and below we have our insider 2023 Golden Slipper tips and best bets on the 67th running.
The Group 1 $5 million Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) has attracted one of the most exciting and open fields in recent memory, and it is Cylinder for Godolphin on top of the markets at $4 through Ladbrokes.com.au.
The James Cummings-trained Exceed And Excel colt gets every chance with J Mac aboard from a gun gate three draw on the back of lead-up wins in the Silver Slipper and Todman.
He maps beautifully for a winning ride from the gate, but will he be able to keep the wins coming when the pressure is on?
There are plenty knocking on the door after the Slipper silverware for themselves at longer odds including the speedy Red Resistance who was flying in a recent trial ahead of his shot at turning the tables on Cylinder.
Throw into the mix an undefeated Inglis Millennium winning filly in Learning To Fly in barrier four, the Blue Diamond winner Little Brose, and runner-up for the Snowdens in that same Group 1 Melbourne feature Don Corleone and the race is well and truly on!
Cylinder is favourite for Godolphin in 2023 Golden Slipper betting this autumn. Photo: Steve Hart.
Favourite: #5 Cylinder ($4 at time of publish) – BET NOW
Godolphin saddle-up the well-backed favourite Cylinder who comes off the Silver Slipper – Todman Stakes double. He improves each start and is doing everything right ahead of the Group 1 assignment. Will get the run of the race from barrier three with J. Mac in the saddle. Both jockey and trainer have previously won a Slipper, and the Todman has produced plenty of recent winners with Farnan (2020) the last to do the double. Right lead-up, right gate, right stable…hard to knock especially out to $4 now.
The Danger: #10 Learning To Fly ($7 at time of publish) – BET NOW
How can you ignore a filly in this vein of form? Annabel Neasham’s flying daughter of Justify is the sole unbeaten juvenile in this year’s Slipper field, and she doesn’t look like stopping anytime soon. Her winning margins have been narrow, but she seems to know exactly how much to leave in the tank and where the line is. Has been a number of these same rivals already and was brave last start in the Group 2 Reisling Stakes saluting as the odds-on favourite. Estijaab (2018) was the last filly to do the Reisling – Slipper double. Barrier 11 looks like it’ll suit, and the past two winners from that gate were both fillies with Mossfun (2014) and She Will Reign (2017). Could just get it done again and remain undefeated.
Best Bet: #7 Shinzo ($14 at time of publish) – BET NOW
2023 Pago Pago Stakes winner Shinzo looks lovely value on the quick back-up in this year’s Golden Slipper field. Photo: Steve Hart.
Going an upset tip and have Chris Waller winning his maiden Golden Slipper with the progressive Shinzo. Great price on offer for the in-form Snitzel colt who Ryan Moore jets in to ride from barrier one. Fireburn won from the inside alley last year with the gate statistically the most successful in recent history. He’s had three lead-up runs in traditional Slipper preparatory events in Sydney and was good winning last Saturday’s Pago Pago. On the quick back-up and is rock-hard fit chasing the double for the first time since Stratum (2005). It’s a tough ask for a two-year-old, but he looks up to the challenge and can surprise a few of these at a price.
Best Roughie: #11 Platinum Jubilee ($16 at time of publish) – BET NOW
Gai Waterhouse is the Slipper queen chasing her record-extending eighth and second in partnership with Bott. The stable have a number of chances, but this ultra-consistent (if not frustrating!) filly looks a forgotten hope at 16/1. She won the Gimcrack on debut last October and has finished runner-up in her three runs since including behind Saturday’s favourite Cylinder in the Silver Slipper last time out.
Ready to bet on the Golden Slipper in 2023? Click here for the full market options at Ladbrokes.com.au.
