Since 2000, the $5million Golden Slipper has been won 13 times by fillies and 10 by colts/ geldings, so let’s take a look at the girls set to do battle this Saturday at Rosehill and highlight a high-profile owner breeder, who has involvement in no fewer than seven runners!
Seven fillies are engaged and six of them were purchased as yearlings with the exception being Godolphin’s homebred Brazen Beau filly Exploring, who is one of two runners in the race from daughters of Exceed and Excel joining Arkansaw Kid.
From the first crop of Triple Crown winner Justify (USA), Learning to Fly is the only unbeaten runner this year and is looking to become the first unbeaten filly to win the race since Bounding Away saluted in 1986.
Platinum Jubilee is looking to give Zoustar his first Golden Slipper winner after his champion filly Sunlight finished third in the race in 2018. Her owners include her breeder Sir Owen Glenn of Go Bloodstock, who is also in the ownership of Don Corleone, King’s Gambit, Empire of Japan, emergency runner Militarize and also Red Resistance and Steel City, the latter two horses also bred by Go Bloodstock.
Blinkers first time might give Platinum Jubilee the edge she needs.
Yarraman Park graduate Blanc de Blanc shooting to give I Am Invincible his first Slipper winner and while she hasn’t won a stakes race yet, she’s been brave in defeat and is a three-quarter sister-in-blood to Oohood, who was beaten a head by Estijaab when second in 2018.
By Golden Slipper winner Capitalist, Lazzago was bred by long time Widden Stud client Robert Anderson and runs for Debbie Kepitis of Woppitt Bloodstock, who is also in the ownership of Shinzo.
Bred by Go Bloodstock and consigned by Coolmore, Steel City is the most expensive yearling sired by Merchant Navy and is a half-sister to dual Group I winner September Run.
The only maiden in the field, Facile is from the first crop of Trapeze Artist and was bred by his owner Bert Viera and foaled, raised and sold by Widden. She and Lazzago were both sold by Widden at Inglis Easter last year.
