A small but promising field of juveniles is engaged to face off in the namesake race on 2016 Silver Slipper Stakes Day in Sydney at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse this Saturday.

2016 Golden Slipper-bound Astern is the headline two-year-old in Saturday’s Silver Slipper Stakes field at Rosehill Gardens. Photo: Steve Hart.

Due to run as Rosehill Race 4 at 2:30pm (local), this season’s $250,000 Group 2 Uvex Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) has attracted a final field of only seven two-year-olds.

The majority of the youngsters in the mix are heading towards the $3.5 million Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) back at the track on March 19, and the Silver Slipper Stakes winner earns a ballot free ride into the classic.

The shortest-priced Silver Slipper Stakes acceptor in futures Golden Slipper betting at Ladbrokes.com.au paying $11 to take out the lucrative Group 1 is the John O’Shea-trained Astern.

The Medaglia D’Oro colt is drawn in gate five on Saturday with Hugh Bowman booked for the ride in place of James McDonald who heads to Victoria on the weekend to partner stablemate Exosphere in the $750,000 Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington.

Astern won his debut at Randwick over 1000m by an impressive two and a half lengths back in early December and took out a subsequent Warwick Farm trial over 800m at the start of the month by an equally impressive two lengths.

He steps up in distance this Saturday but looks like he’ll handle the extra metres no worries in this small line-up.

Peter & Paul Snowden have accepted for two up-and-comers in the Silver Slipper Stakes field this Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival with stablemates Defcon and King Of War drawn in barriers seven and two respectively.

Defcon was a shock scratching from Melbourne’s Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) last weekend after co-trainer Peter Snowden was unhappy with the horse’s bloodwork.

The Choisir colt trialled nicely at Rosehill over 900m on Monday however and is looking to get his autumn back on track with a big run in the Silver Slipper, his first run since crossing second to Tessera over 1100ma t the track on a Heavy (8) course in the Group 3 Canonbury Stakes on January 30.

King Of War has the better barrier on the weekend but is likely to start at a roughie’s price in Silver Slipper Stakes betting having had just the one run to date when the Exceed And Excel colt ran seventh on debut to exciting filly Yankee Rose last October.

He did blitz a Rosehill trial at the start of the week however flying home over 900m to put three and a half lengths on Hinchman.

The rails run in the Silver Slipper belongs to the Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes-trained Mount Panorama who Tommy Berry partners for the third time in as many career starts.

The youngster’s last run was a third in the Canonbury Stakes from barrier six of six, the inside alley boosting his chances of finishing closer this weekend.

Also coming off a last start placing is the Gary Nickson-trained filly Rather Sweet who finished second to Take Of Choice over 1000m at Warwick Farm on February 10.

Check out the full Silver Slipper Stakes 2016 field, barriers and jockeys below then visit Ladbrokes.com.au to access all the best autumn racing odds and promos!

2016 Silver Slipper Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw

Rosehill Race 4 (2:30pm) – 20/02/2016