Golden Slipper Preview

When the great Todman bolted in with the inaugural G1 Golden Slipper at Rosehill in 1957, few realised what an influence the race would have on Australian breeding and racing.

After years of frustration at the poor quality of imported stallions - Star Kingdom (sire of Todman) being the exception - Australian breeders came to rely on the Golden Slipper as a source of sires they could trust.

The race was a game-changer. It turned breeding and racing on its head. And, it is no different today, with the winner (if a colt) likely to command a stud value running to tens of millions of Australian dollars.

Against this backdrop, trainer John O'Shea sends out three Godolphin runners in the 16-runner field in an attempt to lift Rosehill's mega-prize. Astern, Calliope and Telperion have all been progressing nicely towards their target, but the stable suffered a blow at the barrier draw.

Astern, James McDonald's mount, drew the extreme outside in 17, Calliope (Sam Clipperton) 15, and Telperion (James Doyle) 12 - the entire Godolphin team have 70% of the field on their inside.

O'Shea was philosophical. "There have been plenty of (Slipper) winners from wide gates," he said, quickly pointing to last year's winner Vancouver as an example. "17 for Astern is certainly no help, but he has been working well, and he has put behind him the setback that prevented him running last time (March 5)," the trainer added.

Both colts, Astern and Telperion, recently publicised their well-being by winning barrier trials.

Telperion, a son of Street Cry, finished 4th in the G2 Skyline Stakes. O'Shea has announced that the colt will be fitted with blinkers for the first time.

Calliope, a daughter of Exceed and Excel, earned her ticket to the Slipper when taking last week's G2 Magic Night Stakes at Rosehill. She has been well-regarded by O'Shea from the first day she stepped on to a racecourse.

The Mick Price-trained Extreme Choice, winner of the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield, has been sold (in part) to Newgate Farm and China Horse Club in a bloodstock deal that ensured the Slipper remained headline news in Australian racing circles all week.

Extreme Choice, by Not A Single Doubt, beat his stablemate Flying Artie, by Artie Schiller, in the Blue Diamond, and now the pair have both drawn well in the Slipper - they start from gates 7 and 5, respectively.

Peter and Paul Snowden are represented by Capitalist, the (restricted) Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner on the Gold Coast, and Defcon, winner of the G3 Black Opal Stakes at Canberra, and both juveniles have excellent claims.

Gai Waterhouse sends out Kiss And Make Up and Scarlet Rain, with James Cummings saddling Good Standing.

This Golden Slipper card at Rosehill, with its five G1 races, showcases the best equine talent in Australia. It will be a meeting to savour.