While there are a total of five Group One races running at Rosehill this afternoon, the highlight is by far the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m), which will see 16 promising two-year-olds battle it out in the world’s richest juvenile race, worth a total $3.5 million.

Vancouver remains favourite in the Group 1 Golden Slipper betting despite having to start the race from the outside gate. Photo by Steve Hart.

Clarry Conners’ Look To The Stars was scratched from the race Friday afternoon after succumbing to a foot abscess, paving the way for first emergency Serenade to earn her place in the field. The Michael Moroney-trained filly is the roughie outsider of the race, paying odds of $101.

Let’s not forget the fact that Reemah ran a very close second in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) on February 28 at the exact same odds. Serenade will jump from barrier six with Craig Williams to ride.

With the scratching of Look To The Stars, Gai Waterhouse’s Vancouver will officially have to overcome a wide start from the outside gate. However that hasn’t stopped the punters from backing the colt, he remains the $3 favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au.

Only one horse has won the Golden Slipper from barrier 16 since 1957 – Phelan Ready in 2009. Can Vancouver defy history and join the gelding? His form suggests he can.

Vancouver has won all three of his career starts, including the Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m) on March 7. This is generally considered one of the key lead-up races towards the Slipper, and the fact that Vancouver won it with ease by three and a quarter lengths signifies good things for this afternoon.

A win in the 2015 Golden Slipper would mean more to Waterhouse than most since it would earn her a sixth career win in the race, equaling her with her late father TJ Smith. To increase her chances she will also saddle English ($13) and Speak Fondly ($34). Both horses have seen a big drift in the market from their opening prices.

In fact the only other single figure hopeful in the 2015 Golden Slipper betting is Exosphere at $4.20. The John O’Shea-trained colt opened as a $4.60 chance before shortening to an even $4, making him the market mover, however he’s since eased out to $4.20 in the past hour.

Exosphere will jump from barrier eight with defending champion hoop James McDonald. He was last seen winning the Group 2 Skyline Stakes (1200m) by an impressive four lengths back on February 28.

John O’Shea will saddle a further three runners in the Golden Slipper, which means breeding giant Godolphin will have a monopoly on the race.

Furnaces has remained hovering around the $15 mark, set to enjoy the inside jump from barrier one, which has delivered nine winners since 1957 including three of the last six. Haptic has come in from $17 to $16, set to jump from barrier three with James Doyle, and enjoyed a win in the Listed Lonhro Plate (1100m) back in mid-February. Ottoman ($34) is the lone Godolphin filly in the race, set to jump from barrier six with William Buick.

There has been quite a bit of fluctuation in the betting market with the majority of runners drifting from their initial price, which means punters could earn a pretty penny from this afternoon’s race.

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