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The path to Sydney’s iconic $5 million Group 1 TAB Golden Slipper continues at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday with the running of a key feature just four weeks from the ultimate prize.

Several leading chances for the world’s richest race for two-year-olds clash in Saturday’s Group 2 $300,000 TAB Silver Slipper Stakes, which will see the winner secure their place in the TAB Golden Slipper on 23 March.

Espionage (Blake Shinn, No.5) gets up to win the Breeders' Plate at Royal Randwick last September. Image by Steve Hart Photographics

The TAB Silver Slipper Stakes is one of seven pathway races** (table below) linked to the $1 million bonus, won if an individual horse wins two of these races and the TAB Golden Slipper at Rosehill Gardens.

Australian Turf Club Executive General Manager Racing and Wagering James Ross said: “Saturday is the 61th running of the TAB Silver Slipper Stakes a race which has seen three horses in the past 10 years go on to win the [Group 1 $5 million] TAB Golden Slipper.

“The race on Saturday features a number of runners high in markets for the TAB Golden Slipper which continues to build each week as one of the best renewals in recent decades."

Saturday’s 10-race card also features the Group 2 $400,000 Precise Air Hobartville Stakes, Group 2 $300,000 Kia Millie Fox Stakes and a capacity field in the Listed $200,000 Parramatta Cup.

Full fields for all races are available HERE and full TAB Fixed Odds HERE.

Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott are looking to further cement runners in the TAB Golden Slipper with the two favourites in Saturday’s TAB Silver Slipper – Espionage ($2.50 on TAB) with jockey Nash Rawiller and Straight Charge ($2.90) for Tim Clark.

Gai Waterhouse individually has won the race three times and a fourth with co-trainer Bott as the pair continue a remarkable season with their two-year-olds.

Rawiller looks for a third win (Amelia’s Dream 2008) and previously dual Silver Slipper/Golden Slipper and two-year-old triple crown champion Pierro (2012). In 2020 Gai and Adrian’s Farnan claimed the Silver Slipper/Golden Slipper double.

In the past 20 renewals of the TAB Silver Slipper, the first or second starting price favourite has won 15 times.

Saturday sees the 99th running of the Group 2 $400,000 Precise Air Hobartville Stakes, which has seen a string of champion three-year-olds win in its history including Anamoe, The Autumn Sun, Kementari, Pierro, Racing To Win and Lonhro.

The Godolphin colt Tom Kitten for trainer James Cummings and jockey Nash Rawiller opens the $3.20 TAB favourite ahead of Encap ($6) for trainer Gary Portelli and rider Jason Collett. Sixteen of the past 20 winners of the race have been in the first three SP bracket.

Lady Laguna – aiming for a fourth straight win for trainer Annabel Neasham – is the $2.20 TAB favourite in the Group 2 $300,000 Kia Millie Fox Stakes.

For all racing, general and ticketing information including booking for the upcoming Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival go to theraces.com.au.

** To receive the bonus, a horse must win any two of five pathway races as well as winning the ultimate prize – the Group 1 $5 million TAB Golden Slipper at Rosehill Gardens. The nominated races for the bonus in 2024 are:

• TAB Silver Slipper Stakes, Rosehill Gardens - 24 February
• TAB Sweet Embrace Stakes, Catanach’s Jewellers Skyline Stakes, Royal Randwick - 2 March
• Yarraman Park Reisling Stakes and UNSW Todman Stakes, Royal Randwick - 9 March