Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Randwick on Saturday will host two crucial lead-up races to the G1 Golden Slipper S. – the G2 Todman S. (1200 metres) for the boys and the G2 Reisling S. (1200 metres) for the girls.
They are small, but very select fields, with a number of stakes winners and well-fancied Slipper contenders set to round out their preparation for the world’s richest 2-year-old race.
Importantly, the winners of the respective races are exempt from ballot for the Golden Slipper.
Just five runners will face the starter in the Todman, but all are winners and three of them have scored in stakes company. The unbeaten Red Resistance (Russian Revolution) has been hugely impressive in his two starts to date and is likely to start an odds-on favourite.
Gallery: Current Golden Slipper contenders and pre-race favourites for Saturday's Todman S. and Reisling S.
It’s a similar story in the Reisling with six fillies, including two stakes winners, set to do battle, headlined by the Slipper favourite, Learning To Fly (Justify {USA}).
G2 Todman Stakes (Colts and Geldings)
Notable winners:
First run as the Todman Slipper Trial in 1973, the Todman S. became a Listed race in 1979, a Group 3 race in 1980 and was promoted to Group 2 status in 1986.
The race is named after the 2-year-old colt who won the first running of the Golden Slipper in 1957, Australian Racing Hall of Fame member, Todman – a son of Star Kingdom (Ire).
Six 2-year-olds have completed the Todman-Slipper double, with Gai Waterhouse training three of them – Farnan in 2020, Vancouver in 2015 and Pierro in 2012. Tierce also achieved the feat in 1991, as did Marauding (NZ) in 1987 and Luskin Star in 1977.
Gallery: Gai Waterhouse-trained horses who completed the Todman-Slipper double
The Gary Portelli-trained Sejardan (Sebring) ploughed through the Heavy 10 to win the race last year and he went on to run ninth behind stablemate Fireburn (Rebel Dane) in the Slipper.
Godolphin’s eight-time Group 1 winner Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}) was victorious in this event in 2021, before finishing second to Stay Inside in the Slipper.
Other notable winners that have had a profound impact on the breeding industry include Smart Missile in 2011, Written Tycoon in 2005, Charge Forward in 2004, Exceed And Excel in 2003, General Nediym in 1997, Octagonal (NZ) in 1995, Mr. McGinty (NZ) in 1982 and Crown Jester in 1981.
Ones to watch:
Red Resistance is the one they have to beat. The Russian Revolution colt won a Warwick Farm trial by 5.86l after his G3 Canonbury S. triumph and he’s from the right barn - the Gai Waterhouse-Adrian Bott stable is airborne and the former has won eight of the past 22 runnings of the race. The colt should race on the speed and take a power of running down.
Godolphin colt Cylinder (Exceed And Excel) emerged as a legitimate Slipper contender with a stylish win in the G2 Silver Slipper last time out. At his second start, in the Listed Merson Cooper S., he finished second to subsequent Blue Diamond S. hero Little Brose (Per Incanto {USA}), so his form card reads well.
Cylinder (red cap) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The X-factor horse may be Café Millennium (Not A Single Doubt), whose debut win in the Pierro Plate had to be seen to be believed. He’s a brute of a colt and looks to have plenty of raw ability. Look for him charging late.
G2 Reisling Stakes (Fillies)
Notable winners:
First run as the Reisling Slipper Trial in 1973, the Reisling S. became a Listed race in 1979, a Group 3 race in 1980 and was promoted to Group 2 status in 1986.
The race is named after the 2-year-old filly, Reisling (Rego {Ire}), who won the Golden Slipper in 1965.
Seven winners of the Resiling S. have gone on to take out the Slipper, with the most recent of those being Estijaab (Snitzel) in 2018. The other fillies to complete the double are Overreach (Exceed And Excel) in 2013, Polar Success (Success Express {USA}) in 2003, Belle Du Jour (Dehere {USA}) in 2000, Merlene (Danehill {USA}) in 1996, Burst (Marauding {NZ}) in 1992 and Hartshill (My Heart {Ire}) in 1974.
Estijaab, winner of the 2018 G2 Reisling S. | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Mark Newnham’s Seven Veils (Shalaa {Ire}) scored comfortably last year, before finishing 12th in the Slipper. The filly is yet to add another win to her tally.
Other notable winners include English (Encosta De Lago) in 2015, Earthquake (Exceed And Excel) in 2014, Samaready (More Than Ready {USA}) in 2012, More Joyous (NZ) (More Than Ready {USA}) in 2009, Alinghi (Encosta De Lago) in 2004, Bold Promise (Luskin Star) in 1991, Triscay (Marscay) in 1990, and Startling Lass (Luskin Star) in 1988
Hips Don't Lie, winner of the 2008 Reisling S., grandam of this year's favourite Learning To Fly | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Interestingly, the Stravinsky (USA) mare Hips Don’t Lie was triumphant in 2008 and she is the grandam of this year’s favourite, Learning To Fly, while Merlene joined her dam, Bold Promise, on the race’s honour board.
Ones to watch:
Learning To Fly heads into the Reisling as the Slipper favourite, and, justifiably so (pardon the pun). Her debut win the G3 Widden S. was tough and her finish in the R. Listed Inglis Millennium was electric. She is class personified and may just be something special.
The beautifully bred Kundalini (I Am Invincible) is a maiden, but her two performances to date have been full of merit and she has plenty of ability. She probably needs to win the Reisling to get a run in the Slipper (Kundalini is currently 65th in the order of entry).
Kundalini | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The Team Hawkes-trained debutante Mathkhoora (I Am Invincible) – a homebred filly for Emirates Park - creates plenty of interest. She is regally bred, being a daughter of Australia’s Champion Sire and a Golden Slipper heroine in Mossfun (Mossman). Mathkhoora is a half-sister to the Group 3 winner Dajraan (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and has impressed at the trials, beating the Pierro Plate runner-up Remedies (Sepoy) at her latest hitout.
