The big one in Sydney this weekend is of course the two-year-olds facing off in the Golden Slipper 2014 – tips and betting selections for the lucrative feature detailed below.
Running as Rosehill Race 8 at 5pm (AEST), there is sure to be a massive crowd trackside at Rosehill Racecourse to see the season’s ace juveniles go head-to-head in the $3.5 million Group 1 Tooheys New Golden Slipper (1200m).
A capacity field is engaged to face off, the clear favourite of which is Peter Snowden’s undefeated Blue Diamond Stakes winner Earthquake.
Drawn in hoodoo barrier 13 (into 12 if the emergency comes out), the star daughter of Exceed And Excel has won her four career openers and doesn’t look like stopping here.
After her Blue Diamond effort in Melbourne in February Earthquake, paying $2.50 to add the Golden Slipper to her record, enjoyed a class win over a number of her main dangers for the weekend in the Group 2 Reisling Stakes (1200m) on March 22.
But can she become the third favourite in four years to win and go back-to-back for the punters’ picks following the success of Overreach (7/4) last year?
Or will there be an upset Golden Slipper result on the cards from the likes of Reisling runner-up Mossfun ($5), Earthquake’s Todman Stakes winning stable mate Ghibellines ($12) or even Gold Coast Magic Millions Classic champ Unencumbered ($16)?
1st
#9 Earthquake ($2.50)
She was odds-on pre-barrier draw for a reason and really not even a barrier no Golden Slipper winner has jumped from would stop Snowden’s filly is our guess. She took out the Blue Diamond easily and defeated Mossfun in the Reisling over this track and distance warming up for another Group 1 in the bag. While the gate isn’t great, her class and lead-up form are too good to ignore. The favourites have been firing in the Slipper in recent years and there’s a reason why upsets are few and far between especially when a youngster this good is topping the markets.
2nd
#14 Bring Me The Maid ($11)
So many livewire chances for the minor placings, but really like Peter Moody’s runner for this. They get a great barrier (5) and Chad Schofield who knows how to win a big race on an unlikely chance. On the improve having just their fourth start, and already boasts two wins including the Group 2 Magic Night Stakes at the track and distance in a top run last weekend. Have to handle a classy field and a short seven day back-up but the fact they missed the start, over raced and got pushed out to the second widest in the Magic Night but still managed to win didn’t go unnoticed by us.
3rd
#2 Jabali ($26)
Roughie pick for third? Why not! Jabali is way over the odds for us based on what they’ve done so far. Get the rails run from barrier one which is the most successful Golden Slipper barrier in history, and it’s produced the past two winners so they’ll get every chance. Mick Price’s Victorian visitor was runner-up in the Blue Diamond and we think that Quinella will come close to repeating itself. They lost a lot of admirers last time out when debuting in Sydney to run seventh in the Todman, but think they’ll bounce back here and surprise a few with a better finish (now they’ve seen the track and distance) and better gate (they had 7 of 10 last time).
Fancy our Golden Slipper selections or have your own tips on the world’s richest race for two-year-olds?
Then visit the country’s fastest growing online bookie Ladbrokes.com.au who are offering Best Tote or SP on all the races, plus Best Tote or SP PLUS 20% on all the Golden Slipper horses!
*All odds quoted are Fixed Win from Ladbrokes.com.au and subject to change