Cover image courtesy of Sportpix
The Golden Slipper - Australia's stallion-making race
From the second the wonderful sprinter Todman (Star Kingdom {Ire}) crossed the line in the inaugural G1 Golden Slipper S. in 1957 it has been not only a great test of early 2-year-old speed, but of future genetic potential. The honour roll is littered with successful stallions such as Vain (Wilkes {Fr}), Marscay (Biscay), Rory's Jester (Crown Jester), Canny Lad (Bletchingly), Flying Spur (Danehill {USA}), Sebring (More Than Ready {USA}) and Pierro (Lonhro).
Seven of the 16 (plus all four of the emergencies) 2022 runners are colts, each vying to become the next big-ticket stallion prospect.
Coolangatta, the current favourite for the G1 Golden Slipper S. at Rosehill | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
The race has also been indicative of overall patterns in Australian sireline history - dominated early days by the Star Kingdom (Ire) (Stardust {GB}) line with Vain and Sir Tristram (Ire) (Sir Ivor {USA}) having their turns at strong influence leading into the emergence of the mighty Danehill (USA) (Danzig {USA}).
There are some very nice pedigrees amongst this year's contestants though only four sirelines are represented, all of whom have had previous Slipper winners.
More Than Ready (USA) (Southern Halo {USA})
2022: Sejardan (Sebring)
PREVIOUS WINNERS: Phelan Ready (More Than Ready {USA}) and Sejardan's sire Sebring.
Danzig (USA) (Northern Dancer {Can})
2022: Daumier (Epaulette), Best Of Bordeaux (Snitzel), Shalatin (Shalaa {Ire}), Rise Of The Masses (Russian Revolution), Revolutionary Miss (Russian Revolution), Russian Conquest (Russian Revolution), Queen Of The Ball (I Am Invincible), Fireburn (Rebel Dane), Ojai (Exceed And Excel), Seven Veils (Shalaa {Ire}), Lady Laguna (Overshare), She's Extreme (Extreme Choice), Semillion (Shalaa {Ire}), Man In The Mirror (Not A Single Doubt)
This year's race could be a Danehill versus Invincible Spirit (Ire) (Green Desert {USA}) Danzig sireline clash - the former (sire of five Slipper winners, direct male line ancestor of another ten) represented by nine of the above runners, the latter (going for his first Slipper) by five.
Danzig (USA) | Image courtesy of Claiborne Farm
Encosta De Lago (Fairy King {USA})
2022: Jacquinot (Rubick), Sweet Ride (Deep Field), Millane (Zoustar)
PREVIOUS WINNERS: She Will Reign (by Rubick's three-quarter brother Manhattan Rain).
Written Tycoon (Iglesia)
2022: Sebonack (Capitalist), Coolangatta (Written Tycoon)
PREVIOUS WINNERS: Sebonack's sire Capitalist (Written Tycoon).
And so two of this year's runners are by Slipper winners, another five by stallions who have already sired a winner. A fair chance of some history repeating on Saturday!
The All-Star Mile - this young race's best field yet?
We are just four years into the history of this $5 million feature and with 10 of the 15 runners due to face the starter at Flemington on Saturday being Group 1 winners, it looks to be the strongest version yet.
Winners of the Toorak H., the Doomben Cup, the Underwood S., the Mackinnon S., the Doncaster H., the Futurity S., the CF Orr S., the Australian Guineas, the Windsor Park Plate, the Tarzino Trophy, the All Aged S., the Stradbroke H., the Tattersall's Tiara, the Sir Rupert Clarke S., the Railway S. and the ATC Champagne S. take each other on - and it is not often that such a variety of Group 1 gallopers come together.
Last spring's G1 W.S Cox Plate-favourite Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) (withdrawn with an elevated temperature on race morning), looks to be the best horse in the race though it could be argued that his absolute best form is over a little longer. Six of his rivals are Group 1 milers: I'm Thunderstruck (NZ) (Shocking), Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), Lunar Fox (Foxwedge), Callsign Mav (NZ) (Atlante), Inspirational Girl (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) and Captivant (Capitalist).
Zaaki (GB), the current favourite for The All-Star Mile at Flemington | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The latter is one of the three 3-year-olds tackling the older horses, noting that this race's inaugural running was taken out by Mystic Journey (Needs Further) at that age. On the back of a very unlucky G1 Australian Guineas fifth, Pinstriped (Street Boss {USA}) is strongly fancied this time around. And should Inspirational Girl salute, it will be a second win in four years for Bob and Sandra Peters who cheered home the 2020 quinella of Regal Power (Pierro) and Superstorm (Sebring).
Just two of last year's runners back up - Lunar Fox (Foxwedge) who was fourth last year and Streets Of Avalon (Magnus) who was seventh.
Group 1 WFA contests in Sydney - The Ranvet and the Ryder
There have been occasions when the weight-for-age races contested on G1 Golden Slipper Day have upstaged the main contest somewhat and whilst this year's running of the G1 Ranvet has attracted a small field of only six, it is headlined by Australia's best horse: Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) attempting to win her 12th Group 1. And many of those heading to Rosehill will be there to see her!
This time last year she headed to this race off a G1 Chipping Norton S. victory which she does so again. Should she succeed (and she should!) she will be the 12th multiple Ranvet winner alongside the likes of Theseo (by her relation Danewin), Tie The Knot (Nassipour {USA}), Beau Zam (NZ) (Zamazaan {Fr}), Gunsynd (Sunset Hue), Sky High (Star Kingdom {Ire}) and Wenona Girl (Wilkes {Fr}).
Both the Ranvet and the G1 George Ryder S. were first run in 1903 and the latter's honour roll is also a strong one, highlighted by the four recent successes of Winx (Street Cry {Ire}). There may not be a horse of her considerable quality in this year's race but it is still a most interesting field of horses proven at the elite level.
Such as the multiple Group 1 winners Forbidden Love (All Too Hard), Kolding (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}), Mo'unga (NZ) (Savabeel), Colette (Hallowed Crown) and Hungry Heart (Frankel {GB}), the G1 Epsom H. winner Private Eye (Al Maher) and the G1 Prix Jean Prat winner Law Of Indices (Ire) (Power {GB}).
The Rosehill Guineas - Small but select field
Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}) has opened a short-priced favourite here, punters confident that over 2000 metres (the distance at which he was a brave and somewhat unlucky G1 W.S Plate second) he can turn the tables on Converge (GB) (Frankel {GB}) who had his measure in the shorter G1 Randwick Guineas.
Converge has his first crack at the trip, a distance at which his sire was successful at Group 1 level on two occasions whilst his dam sire Shamardal (USA) (Giant's Causeway {USA}) won a G1 French Derby. Plenty of middle-distance form in the family too.
Anamoe, the current favourite for the G1 Rosehill Guineas at Rosehill | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Profondo (Deep Impact {Jpn}) won the G1 Spring Champion S. over the 2000 metres last October, creating such a big impression that he was all the rage when resuming in the G1 Australian Guineas. From a tricky gate he endured a tough run in that race - is he the big improver here?
In a race which looks likely to be dominated by the top four, Forgot You (NZ) (Savabeel) is the other major prospect having boxed on soundly to finish on the heels of the placegetters in the Australian Guineas. He attempts to become the second winner in a row for his sire who was represented last year by Mo'unga.
The Speed of The Galaxy
We've had a few short-priced favourites in feature sprints in recent weeks but the 2022 G1 The Galaxy is very much an open affair with differing formlines, horses from three states - twelve stables represented. And not many who you could not make an argument for, noting that each and every one of these runners have good recent form.
Joseph Pride won this last year with Eduardo (Host {Chi}) and hopes to make it back-to-back success with Ballistic Lover (Smart Missile) who boasts a good first-up record. He is amongst the four contestants tackling this feature fresh (the last horse to win this first-up being In Her Time by Time Thief in 2018) with Big Parade (Deep Field), In The Congo (Snitzel) and Isotope (Deep Field) all very capable of pulling out big runs.
Eduardo, winner of the 2021 The Galaxy | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The latter is one of the six horses coming off last-start wins - Overpass (Vancouver), Malkovich (Choisir) and too good down the Flemington straight last time out whilst Paulele (Dawn Approach {Ire}), Belluci Babe (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) and Shelby Sixtysix (Toronado {Ire}) have all recently won Group 3 events at Randwick... the latter beginning to gain a following as he lines up for his fifth consecutive Saturday. And also popular due to her flashy looks is Brooklyn Hustle (Starspangledbanner) who can find a bit of bad luck!
The G1 Oakleigh Plate could prove a good form reference for this - Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) a close up fifth with post-race issues, Away Game (Snitzel) a gutsy second, Malkovich a solid fourth, Minhaaj (Exceed And Excel) out of the money but unlucky.
Group 1 action in New Zealand - The Levin Classic and the NZ Oaks
The G1 Levin Classic is a race dominated by the Jamie Richards stable - the Hong Kong-bound trainer saddling up five of the 12 runners including the talented Australian-bred, last-start winners On The Bubbles (Brazen Beau), Mohawk Brave (Extreme Choice) and Imperatriz (I Am Invincible).
Each of those horses have considerable ability but is the less experienced Shamus (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) the one to beat? Looking suited back in distance having fought on well in the G2 Waikato Guineas, he showed plenty of heart winning his first four starts. He may well be watched from overseas - being a member of a high-class Wertheimer (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) family; one of his relations being the superstar mare Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa {USA}).
Imperatriz, the current favourite for the G1 Levin Classic at Trentham | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
Exciting filly Self Obsession (NZ) (Shocking) looks to be the one to beat in the G1 New Zealand Oaks - the Jamie Richards-trained daughter of a G1 Melbourne Cup winner so impressive taking out her last four. She is however taking on another filly who really knows how to find the line - Bellatrix Black (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) winning her last two off less than ideal runs.
It could be another big race for the Richards stable who are also represented by The Perfect Pink (NZ) (Savabeel) and Belle En Rouge (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) or could it be the legendary trainer John Wheeler to the fore with Le Villi (NZ) (Puccini {NZ})?
