The best 2YO race in the world is the Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill and the 2023 edition this Saturday shapes up to be a cracker, with Cylinder being favourite.
Down below is a speed map, runner preview and $100 betting strategy for the 2023 Golden Slipper.
Market 💰: View the Odds for the Golden Slipper
2023 Golden Slipper Speed Map
Looks like it will be a very genuine tempo with key speed runners drawn wide, notably Steel City and Facile looking to get across and with that, Red Resistance likely gets the cart over. Exploring is drawn inside them and will be handy. Cylinder should lob into a beaut spot from gate three, likewise Shinzo from the pole. Platinum Jubilee is drawn gate eleven and has options, whether they opt for cover or roll the dice and slide forward.
2023 Golden Slipper Runner Preview:
1. Little Brose: You need to be a very good horse to do the Blue Diamond/Golden Slipper double. He’s a good horse…very good? I am saying no, but he’s ticked the 1200m box after the Blue Diamond and was strong to the line. Form out of it has been franked, he’ll sit off the good speed and be strong at the end.
2. Barber: Can you forgive a good horse for one bad run? Yes you can. Is he a good horse? He has the potential to be, but it was just a win in the Blue Diamond Prelude and he was plain in the big one. That said, his best efforts have come in Sydney and is a winner at the track.
3. Arkansaw Kid: Thought he was no hope in the Blue Diamond but he got a suck run in transit and battled on really well to finish third. Drawn tricky here, will have to work, happy to let him go through to the keeper.
4. Don Corleone: Don Corleone is a good colt for Team Snowden. He’s had three career outings, smashing them on debut before a forgive run two back. He then went to the Blue Diamond and you can make a case that with clear air, he wins the race instead of a second to Little Brose, getting held up at the wrong time. He’ll love firmer footing, truly run 1200m, he appeals big time.
5. Cylinder: Cylinder…can the overs god be kind? $51 was the price I got for him before he trialled this prep and fast forward to now, he’s been dominant in two wins, has run time and IMO, is clearly the #1 seed. Race was there to be won in the Todman and he won impressively, winning with something in hand to the eye as well. With normal luck, he’s clearly the one they have to beat.
6. Red Resistance: I said pre Todman that there is the potential he could be a squib. He had it soft in front in the Todman and was entitled to kick and win, but on the line, he was safely held by Cylinder. That horse had more fitness but the map is just too tough for him to turn the tables.
7. Shinzo: Gate one is a big, big tick, given the track pattern is likely going to suit up/in. Just a win I thought last Saturday in the Pago Pago and even though he gets Ryan Moore, the worlds best rider IMO, he isn’t sharp enough I feel to beat these.
8. King’s Gambit: I do think this horse is a squib. Everyone is gushing about his trial last week, but he is race fit and taking on unraced types, and the overall time was shocking relative to the morning. Ridden with a sit, he can run somewhat of a positive race, but I am keen to oppose him.
9. Empire Of Japan: Good honest horse but he’s not up to this level. He battled in the Todman and can’t see him turning the tables.
10. Learning To Fly: Beware the unbeaten filly…but is she looking for the paddock. Big win in the Millennium before leading throughout to win the Reisling, where they went hard early and walked home late, relative to the Todman. Much better with a bunny to chase, but I think she could be a tired horse.
11. Platinum Jubilee: Platinum Jubilee has the fresh legs leading into this and has versatility re racing pattern. She has been kept on ice since the Silver Slipper where she attempted to lead throughout and gave a good kick but couldn’t quite finish it off, run down late by Cylinder, who franked the form in the Todman. Went sharp in a tick over trial win and while she has been effective on speed, I reckon she is far better with a bunny to chase.
12. Blanc De Blanc: If she drew an inside marble, I could see her finish top five. But drawn wide again, likely to be snagged back…I can’t see her threatening.
13. Exploring: Good racing style but a hard 1200m is a bridge too far for her.
14. Lazzago: There is a bit of Fireburn about her. Out of sight out of mind after the Sweet Embrace and the form out of that race has been strong thanks to Facile and Blanc De Blanc subsequently running well. She’ll sit back, off the good speed and be strong late…one for multiples.
15. Steel City: This will be her Grand Final in as many runs. Was wound up for the Blue Diamond and had no luck but had to be wound up last Saturday in the Magic Night given she needed to win to get her start here and she won impressively, running time. The gate makes things very tricky and I think she could be a tired horse.
16. Facile: Gutsy, gutsy filly, but I just don’t think she has the engine under the hood to take this out.
17. Militarize (First Emergency): Nice colt but he’s not up to this level.
2023 Golden Slipper $100 Betting Strategy:
Been hot on Cylinder for this race for a while and won’t be dropping off. $100 win on him.
Group l Strategy Outlay: $4450
Group l Strategy Return: $3219.50
2023 Golden Slipper Odds:
