Horse Racing

The Todman Slipper Trial, also referred to as the Todman Stakes, is an exciting Group 2 race held as part of the coveted Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival. Taking place on Coolmore Stud Classic Day in March at the esteemed Rosehill Racecourse, the Todman Slipper Trial is one of six group races at the meeting.

The feature event of the day is the Group 1 Coolmore Classic, followed by the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes. Then four Group 2 events steal the show, the Reisling Slipper (the equivalent race for fillies) Trial, Canterbury Stakes, Phar Lap Stakes and, of course, the Todman Slipper Trial.

Worth $300,000 in prize money, the Todman Slipper Trial is run over the sprint distance of 1200m and is for two-year-old colts and geldings at set weights. It is one of the better events for two-year-olds at the Sydney Autumn Carnival. The premier two-year-olds race is the prestigious Group 1 $3.5million Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill, with many runners using the Todman Stakes as a preparatory race to the Golden Slipper in two weeks time. The winner of the Todman Slipper Trial is exempt from ballot for the Golden Slipper Stakes.

Many Todman Slipper Trial runners will have come via the Group 3 Skyline Stakes at Randwick the previous week, which is run under the exact conditions and distance. Other good lead-up set weight races for the two-year-old runners are the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes (1100m) held a fortnight before on Chipping Norton Stakes Day, and the Group 2 Silver Slipper (1100m) at Rosehill in late February. So be sure to keep an eye on these earlier events as an indication for your Todman Slipper bets.

The Todman Slipper Trial 2012 will be run on Saturday March 24th, 2012.

Todman Slipper Trial History

The Todman Slipper Trail was inaugurated in 1973 with Imagele claiming victory in the first race. It began as a principal race run over 1200m, and although the distance has remained the same, the status of the event has increased. It was elevated to a Group 3 status in 1980 before finally being installed as a Group 2 race in 1986.

After 2005 the Todman Slipper Trail was called the Todman Stakes.

Recent Todman Slipper Trial Winners