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A pivotal pathway race to the Group 1 $5 million Longines Golden Slipper and the chance for a new $1 million bonus take centre stage this Saturday for the Australian Turf Club’s Silver Slipper Day at Rosehill Gardens.

The group 2 $250,000 Fujitsu General Silver Slipper Stakes has attracted a field of 15 acceptors in a race that automatically qualifies the winner for the world’s richest race for two-year-olds at Rosehill Gardens on 19 March.

Saturday’s winner will also be eligible for an inaugural $1 million bonus if he or she wins one of four more pathway races before also taking out the $5 million Longines Golden Slipper. Two Longines Golden Slipper winners in the past decade have achieved the treble feat – Pierro in 2012 and Farnan in 2020.

Australian Turf Club Executive General Manager Racing and Wagering, James Ross said the Group 2 Fujitsu General Silver Slipper Stakes had attracted its largest acceptance in more than 20 years.

“It is pleasing to see such a large field accept for Saturday as owners and trainers plot a pathway towards the ultimate prize, the Longines Golden Slipper," Mr Ross said. “The increase in prizemoney to $5 million for this year’s Longines Golden Slipper complemented by the $1 million bonus for winners of two key lead-up races further elevates the world’s richest race for two-year-olds above all peers.

“The Fujitsu Silver Slipper Stakes shapes the landscape for the two-year-olds each year and the eventual winner will be in a prime position to take out the Longines Golden Slipper Bonus this year.”

Defending Longines Golden Slipper-winning trainers Richard and Michael Freedman have the heavily TAB favourite on Saturday in filly Queen of The Ball ($3.60-$2.60 TAB) with Rachel King aboard.

The Joe Pride-trained Shalatin with jockey Regan Bayliss is a $5-$5.50 TAB second favourite followed by impressive last start Rosehill Gardens Canonbury Stakes winner Best of Bordeaux ($6-$7) for Queensland trainer Kacy Fogden and ridden by Sam Clipperton.

Lonhro Plate-winning filly Cythera for trainers Peter and Paul Snowden and is an $8-$7.50-$8 chance in early betting followed by the James Cummings-trained Godolphin filly Ojai ($11-$9) for jockey Tim Clark.

Saturday’s Group 2 $250,000 Fujitsu General Silver Slipper Stakes final field has attracted 10 colts and five fillies. In the past 20 renewals of the race, it has been won by eight colts and 12 fillies.

The 10-race Rosehill Gardens card just three weeks from the official start of the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival also features the Group 2 $400,000 Petaluma Hobartville Stakes and Group 2 $200,000 Rosehill Bowling Club Millie Fox Stakes.

Boom Godolphin three-year-old Anamoe has opened $1.85-$1.75 with TAB in the Petaluma Hobartville Stakes for trainer James Cummings and jockey Hugh Bowman as the colt continues a course to further major Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival races.

In another strong field of 15 acceptors, Converge from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable and ridden by Tim Clark has been supported from $6-$5.50 with TAB.

Ranch Hand saddled up by Sydney’s 11-time champion trainer Chris Waller is at $8 while popular WA jockey William Pike at his first Saturday meeting since relocating to Sydney rides Hilal ($11) for trainers John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes.

The Group 2 $200,000 Millie Fox Stakes features one of the betting races of the day and some notable early moves in TAB markets. Expat, a winner of seven of her 12 starts, has opened early favourite ($3.80-$4) for trainer Mark Newnham and jockey Tom Sherry.

Group-1 winning mare Krone is the early TAB market move ($7.50-$5) for Queensland trainer Tony Gollan and in-form jockey Hugh Bowman. Belluci Babe for Warwick Farm trainer Bjorn Baker and rider Jason Collett has also been strongly backed in early TAB betting – $4.80-$4.20.

Rocha Clock remains firm in betting $4.80-$5 for trainer John O’Shea with Tommy Berry aboard. Full fields for all 10 races at Rosehill Gardens are available here and full TAB markets for each race here.

The Rosehill Gardens track was rated a Soft 5 on Thursday morning. For all racing, general and ticketing information including hospitality packages at Rosehill Gardens and Royal Randwick for the upcoming Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival go to australianturfclub.com.au