The Australian Turf Club has received a new record number of second acceptances for Sydney’s iconic race – the $3.5 million Longines Golden Slipper – to be run 23 March on Australia’s biggest day of Group 1 racing.
The 384 second acceptances is a seven per cent jump on last year’s previous high mark of 358, and continues four years of growth from 304 second nominations in 2016 for the world’s richest race for two year olds.
The highest number of acceptances by stables and trainers for 2019 are Snowden Racing (40), David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig (33), Godolphin’s James Cummings (31), Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott (25), Tony McEvoy (22), and Hawkes Racing (17).
Other leading Sydney trainers with second acceptances include Chris Waller (13), John O’Shea (10), Gerald Ryan (7) and Mark Newnham (6).
Sires with the highest number of runners include I Am Invincible (41), Snitzel (34), Fastnet Rock and Not A Single Doubt (22) and Exceed and Excel (18).
A total of 195 colts and geldings and 189 fillies remain in contention.
Australian Turf Club Executive General Manager of Racing Services and Membership James Heddo said: “We are thrilled with the continued increase in second acceptance numbers for the Longines Golden Slipper, the race every owner, trainer and jockey first dreams of winning.
“The Australian Turf Club continues to work very hard to keep the Longines Golden Slipper on the pedestal it deserves as the race that shapes the Australian racing and breeding industry like nowhere else in the world.
“With the Longines Golden Slipper being one of five Group One races on 23 March including the anticipated appearance of Winx in The Agency George Ryder Stakes, Rosehill Gardens will again be the focus of the racing world.”
The full list of second acceptances can be found on theraces.com.au
This Saturday at Rosehill Gardens will mark just seven weeks until the Longines Golden Slipper, with a full pathway of two year old races, starting with the running of the Widden Stakes for fillies and Canonbury Stakes for colts.
Other two year old races include Darley Lonhro Plate and Inglis Millennium at Warwick Farm (9 February), Hurun Report Pierro Plate (Royal Randwick 16 February), Silver Slipper Stakes at Rosehill Gardens (23 February), and the Liberty International Underwriters Sweet Embrace Stakes for fillies and Schweppes Skyline Stakes for colts (2 March at Royal Randwick).
Crucial final lead-up races will be the Reisling Stakes for fillies and UNSW Todman Stakes for colts at Royal Randwick on 9 March and Magic Night Stakes (fillies) and Bowermans Office Furniture Pago Pago Stakes (colts) at Rosehill Gardens on 16 March.
For all racing, ticketing and general information including discounts of up to 50 per cent on general admission tickets for Longines Golden Slipper Day go to theraces.com.au
