Horse Racing

This Saturday Easter celebrations will reach their peak when the picturesque Rosehill Gardens Racecourse hosts the world’s richest race for juveniles, the $3.5million Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m).

The 2010 Golden Slipper is sponsored by AAMI and the final field of 15 promising two-year-olds has been announced in the lead-up to the scintillating showdown.

Gold Coast-based trainer Gillian Heinrich’s unbeaten filly Military Rose is the clear pre-race favourite for this year’s coveted Golden Slipper currently at $3.60 for a win with IASbet.

A daughter of General Nediym, Military Rose has claimed impressive victories in all five of her career starts and has already earned over $1.5million in prizemoney. Her last win came at Rosehill over the same 1200m track as Saturday’s Golden Slipper will be run, in the Reisling Slipper Stakes.

Due to be ridden by Stathi Katsidis, who is back aboard the rising star after missing her last start win because of suspension, Military Rose has drawn mid-field with barrier eight.

Current second favourite at $5 is the Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra-trained Crystal Lily. The improving filly has saluted in three of her six starts including her most recent victory in the Group 3 Sweet Embrace Stakes.

Although still green, Crystal Lily’s three length win in the Sweet Embrace Stakes, which was her first start in Sydney, showed her great skill and after drawing the prized barrier one for Saturday looks a real chance here.

Following closely in the betting markets at $6 is the Gai Waterhouse-trained More Than Ready colt Brightexpectations coming off a sensational win in the Group 2 Pago Pago Stakes last Saturday. Brightexpectations has also drawn well in the Golden Slipper with barrier four and will be ridden by big race specialist Nash Rawiller.

Waterhouse is one of two trainers with multiple runners in the Golden Slipper this year and is also represented by improving filly More Strawberries who has drawn the nightmare barrier 14.

Tim Martin also has two runners in the 2010 Golden Slipper with Carved In Stone (barrier 10) and Lohan (barrier seven).

Other talented two-year-olds set to line up in the 2010 Golden Slipper include unbeaten Snitzel filly and Silver Slipper Stakes winner Chance Bye (barrier three), the Gerald Ryan-trained Fastnet Rock colt Hinchinbrook (barrier five), Beneteau (barrier six) and Solar Charged (barrier thirteen).

2010 AAMI Golden Slipper Final Field & Barrier Draw