The countdown to the world’s richest two year old race, the $3.5m AAMI Golden Slipper, begins in earnest this weekend with three vital qualifiers.
On Saturday at Warwick Farm, two ballot exempt positions are up for grabs when the colts and geldings contest the $125 000 Group 3 Skyline Stakes (1200m) and the fillies line up in the $125 000 Group 3 Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m), while on Sunday, it is Canberra’s turn to shine with the $250 000 Listed Black Opal Stakes (1200m)Â the feature.
Smart Missile will return in Saturday's Todman Stakes - Photo by Steve Hart
The Skyline Stakes has been a good form race for the Golden Slipper, with Snitzel (2005), Dance Hero (2004), Prowl (1998) and Guineas (1997) all completing the Skyline Stakes-Golden Slipper double in the last 2o years.
Other notable winners to come through the race include eventual Golden Slipper favourites Murtajill and Casino Prince, Golden Slipper and Cox Plate placegetter Manhattan Rain, Emirates Stakes winner All American and Royal Ascot trailblazer Choisir.
This year, so far at least, it appears the strongest colts seen so far are bypassing the race.
Breeders Plate winner Smart Missile will return in the Todman Stakes, while it is unclear whether Blue Diamond winner Sepoy will run again before the Golden Slipper.
It is unknown if boom horse Straight Gold will tackle this race.
Outside of Sepoy, this year’s crop of two year olds have been dominated by fillies, with a number still unbeaten.
They will have their chance to continue their unbeaten streak in this Saturday’s Sweet Embrace Stakes.
Two fillies have completed the Sweet Embrace-Golden Slipper double in the last 20 years – Crystal Lily (2010), who won last year’s Sweet Embrace very easily, and Ha Ha (2001).
Headway and Victory Vein, who both finished second in the Golden Slipper, are other notable winners of this race.
This year’s Sweet Embrace Stakes looks much stronger than the Skyline Stakes.
Touted runners include two unbeaten fillies – Magic Millions winner Karuta Queen and Inglis Classic winner Pane in the Glass – as well as Gimcrack Stakes winner Defiant Dame, Magic Millions placegetter Schiffer and promising Darley fillies Aerobatics and Glissade.
However, depending on barrier draws and fitness, it is possible that Karuta Queen, Defiant Dame and Aerobatics may end up racing in Canberra’s feature two year old race, the Black Opal Stakes.
While only one horse has completed the Golden Slipper-Black Opal double – that being Catbird in 1999 – it usually throws up a very nice horse in the making.
Last year’s winner Decision Time went on to run second in the Golden Slipper and is one of the best three year old sprinters around.
This year, while Canberra officials are hoping to entice local girl Karuta Queen, there appears only a slim chance that she will run there.
Outside of the three fillies, there doesn’t look to be much depth.
After the three features this weekend, all eyes turn back to Rosehill where four more qualifiers are run – two for the boys and two for the girls.
For the colts and geldings, they have the option of running in the $300 000 Group 2 Todman Slipper Trial (1200m)Â on March 19 or the $175 000 Group 2 Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) on March 26.
The fillies have the choice between the $300 000 Group 2 Reisling Slipper Trial (1200m) on March 19 or the $175 000 Group 2 Magic Night Stakes (1200m) on March 26.
The Golden Slipper is run on April 2.
Written by Andrew Hawkins
