The Australian Turf Club (ATC) took early nominations for the Golden Slipper 2017 this week with a bumper 2,091 youngsters in the mix for next yearâs edition of the worldâs richest race for juveniles.
2016 Golden Slipper winner Capitalist. Photo: Steve Hart.
Nominations for the $3.5 million Group 1 Longines Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m), run at Rosehill Gardens on March 19 during the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival, are up 85 from this time last season.
âThe Longines Golden Slipper is the race every owner, trainer, jockey and breeder dreams of winning from the moment a young thoroughbred takes its first steps,â the ATCâs Chief Executive Officer Mr Pearce said in a press statement.
âThe Longines Golden Slipper is the race that shapes and defines the Australian racing industry like no other.
âIt is also very pleasing to see not only all of Sydneyâs biggest trainers and stables amongst the nominations but many in large numbers from interstate.
âThe Australian Turf Club again looks forward to hosting Sydneyâs signature race at our world class racing and spectator facilities at Rosehill Gardens.â
A total of 1132 colts and geldings have been nominated for the 61st edition of the ATCâs premier race for two-year-olds along with 959 fillies looking to join Overreach (2013) and Mossfun (2014) as the most recent fillies to beat home the boys in the lucrative autumn classic.
This yearâs Golden Slipper winner was the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Capitalist (2016), the second champion for Peter Snowden who also prepared Sepoy for his 2011 success as the head trainer for Darley (now Godolphin).
Snowden Racing have paid the hefty $784,125 to nominate 69 yearlings for a Golden Slipper bid next autumn including seven progeny from the 2012 Golden Slipper winner Pierro.
The best represented of the Golden Slipper nominators this season with 165 entries is the mighty Godolphin stable and their current head trainer John OâShea.
Among the Godolphin nominees are a host of fillies and colts from former Slipper champ Sepoy and Accented, a daughter of the 2011 Caulfield Guineas winner Helmet.
Mick Price (105) and Gai Waterhouse (104) are the other trainers boasting big numbers in the Golden Slipper Stakes nominations.
Caulfield-based Price has prepared two previous Blue Diamond Stakes champs including this yearâs winner Extreme Choice, but is yet to train a Golden Slipper winner.
Sydneyâs leading female trainer Waterhouse meanwhile boasts a record six Golden Slipper winners from 43 starters in the two-years-old feature.
Waterhouse first won with Ha Ha (2001) followed by Dance Hero (2004), Sebring (2008), Pierro (2012), Overreach (2013) and most recently Vancouver (2015).
She has nominated for a number of yearlings sired by her past Golden Slipper champions as she prepares for yet another assault on the Group 1 Rosehill showdown.
Victorian horseman Darren Weir has been a dominant force over the past 12 months including his Melbourne Cup success last November and has doubled his Golden Slipper entries this year with 42 rising two-year-olds.
Best Represented 2017 Golden Slipper Nominators
- Godolphin (165)
- Mick Price (105)
- Gai Waterhouse (104)
- David Hayes & Tom Dabernig (84)
- Chris Waller (83)
- Snowden Racing (69)
- Aquanita Racing (57)
- Gerald Ryan (49)
- Hawkes Racing (45)
- Darren Weir (42)
Snitzel ran 12th to Stratum in the 2005 Golden Slipper over a decade ago as the beaten favourite, but for 2017 he is the leading sire of nominees with 108.
Waterhouseâs third champ Sebring has 85 Slipper entries for next year followed by Fastnet Rock with 84 and then Smart Missile (70) for the older sires.
As for the first season sires, Pierro leads the numbers with 82 yearlings nominated for the Golden Slipper Stakes 2017.
Golden Slipper first acceptances close on October 4 this year attracting a $550 fee for connections followed by second acceptances ($1000) on January 23 next year.
The final 2014 Golden Slipper Stakes acceptances ($30,000) close the Tuesday before Golden Slipper Day.
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