Longines Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill Gardens – Australia’s biggest day of Group 1 racing – will be run this Saturday on an even bigger and brighter note following last week’s seven-day postponement.
A limited number of tickets remain on sale as patrons return to this year’s Longines Golden Slipper to celebrate the 65th running of the city’s iconic race. Remarkably after almost 400mm of rain over the past 10 days, the Rosehill Gardens track is moving towards being in the soft range by Saturday.
The nine-race card features five Group 1 races headlined by the $3.5 million Longines Golden Slipper at 4.30pm. Profiteer for trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr with jockey Hugh Bowman is a $3.70 TAB favourite to win the world’s richest race for two-year-olds ahead of another colt Stay Inside ($4.60), trained by brothers Richard and Michael Freedman for jockey Tommy Berry.
A firming third favourite is a filly – Four Moves Ahead ($5) – for trainer John Sargent and jockey Nash Rawiller. Among the 15 runners which include five fillies, several female trainers and jockeys are creating their own piece of Longines Golden Slipper history.
Legendary horsewoman Gai Waterhouse already holds the training record of seven Longines Golden Slipper winners. She partners with trainer Adrian Bott and filly Swift Witness (jockey Tim Clark) at $31 with TAB.
Annabel Neasham – in just her first full year as a trainer – has her first Longines Golden Slipper runner in Queen Of Wizardy ($81) with jockey John Allen. And for the first time in history two female jockeys ride in the same Longines Golden Slipper – Kathy O’Hara on Rocket Tiger ($51) for trainer Scott Spackman and Rachel King on Anamoe ($17) for Godolphin trainer James Cummings.
Along with the iconic Longines Golden Slipper, the world’s highest-rated horse Addeybb returns to Sydney in a clash with Australia’s seven-time Group 1 winner Verry Elleegant in the Group 1 $700,000 Ranvet Stakes after the pair’s thrilling quinella in last year’s race.
Addeybb, trained by William Haggas and ridden by UK jockey Tom Marquand, is a $2.10 TAB favourite ahead of Chris Waller-trained Verry Elleegant ($2.80) for jockey James McDonald.
Australian Turf Club Chief Executive, Jamie Barkley said Longines Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill Gardens was one of Australian sport’s signature events.
“With a clear forecast for the rest of the week we are delighted to be able to finally welcome everyone back to this year’s Longines Golden Slipper," Mr Barkley said.
“Sydney’s racing is world-class and Longines Golden Slipper Day sits at the very top of our racing every year, which is why it was so important to put it back a week with the rest of the Carnival following record rainfall.
“With five Group 1 races, Sydney is ready to celebrate in style a signature event on the annual sporting calendar. Sydney didn’t get the chance to be on course last year for the Longines Golden Slipper so we are looking forward to double the celebration to make up for it this year."
The Group 1 $1,000,000 The Agency George Ryder Stakes, Group 1 $700,000 Bisley Workwear Galaxy and Group 1 $600,000 Sky Racing Rosehill Guineas add to Saturday’s blockbuster card.
The Rosehill Gardens track was rated a Heavy 9 on Thursday morning but is continuing to dry out and improve each day. Rosehill Gardens and all ATC racecourses provide free parking and free high-capacity WiFi. For all ticketing, racing and general information visit theraces.com.au