The final Golden Slipper lead-up races took place at Rosehill on Saturday, setting the stage for next weekend’s $5 million feature. While Skyhook is all but confirmed to take his place in the field, trainer Peter Snowden has ruled out Memo, making her highly unlikely to line up. For supporters of Wodeton, the colt appears well-positioned to secure a start.
Skyhook will attempt to follow in the footsteps of 2023 Golden Slipper winner Shinzo, with both colts sharing strikingly similar lead-up preparations. However, there is a key difference—Shinzo had three trials before debuting on January 28, while Skyhook had just one before his first race on February 15.
Both runners enter the Golden Slipper at their fourth career start, having placed third on debut, followed by a second in the Group 2 Skyline Stakes and a breakthrough win in the Group 3 Pago Pago Stakes.
Wodeton also comes into the Slipper at his fourth start and will benefit from the absence of Tentyris, the colt who beat him last time out. Tentyris has been ruled out due to a stress fracture, removing a key competitor from the Golden Slipper field.
| Order | Horse | Sex | Trainer | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXEMPT | RIVELLINO | C | Kris Lees | $363,500 |
| EXEMPT | TEMPTED | F | James Cummings | $286,650 |
| EXEMPT | BEIWACHT | C | James Cummings | $215,575 |
| EXEMPT | SKYHOOK | C | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | $211,000 |
| EXEMPT | MEMO | F | Peter Snowden | $181,100 |
| EXEMPT | WITHIN THE LAW | F | Bjorn Baker | $172,000 |
| 8 | DEVIL NIGHT | C | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | $1,290,000 |
| 9 | NORTH ENGLAND | C | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | $610,600 |
| 10 | RETURN TO CONQUER | C | Mark Walker | $483,962 |
| 11 | THE PLAYWRIGHT | F | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | $342,000 |
| 12 | TYCOON STAR | C | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | $340,000 |
| 13 | ICARIAN DREAM | F | Ciaron Maher | $273,600 |
| 14 | MY GLADIOLA | F | John McArdle | $253,600 |
| 15 | WEST OF SWINDON | C | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | $246,000 |
| 16 | BLITZBURG | C | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | $169,950 |
| 17 | BELLAZAINE | F | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | $169,000 |
| 18 | WODETON | C | Chris Waller | $165,750 |
| 19 | KING OF POP | C | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | $154,900 |
| 20 | BEL MERCI | F | John Thompson | $148,400 |
| 21 | LA BELLA BOOM | F | Tony Gollan | $144,200 |
| 22 | MISS CELINE | F | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | $132,750 |
| 23 | MILITARY TYCOON | F | Ciaron Maher | $127,125 |
| 24 | COMEDY | C | James Cummings | $121,800 |
| 25 | QUIETLY ARROGANT | C | Peter Snowden | $121,350 |
| 26 | EXTRACTOR | C | Michael Freedman | $117,500 |
| 27 | HI BARBIE | F | Tony Gollan | $116,000 |
| 28 | CAVALRY GIRL | F | Tom Dabernig | $113,000 |
| 29 | ALEPPO PINE | C | James Cummings | $94,950 |
| 30 | PALLATON | C | Michael Freedman | $93,300 |