Golden Slipper Day has to be one of the best days in Australian Racing with 16 juveniles competing for their share of the $3,500,000 prizemoney in the world’s richest two-year-old race, the Group I Golden Slipper race. Dreams will come true and others will be shattered in the 70 odd seconds it takes to run the 1200m and this year we have the likelihood of a wet track to add even further intrigue. A capacity field of the most precocious juveniles from across the country make for an exciting and hotly contested race. Sunlight is the benchmark two-year-old of the season being undefeated in 2018 winning five races including the Magic Millions, Sliver Slipper and Magic Night, whilst Written By showed he is a worthy rival to Tony McEvoy’s filly with a tough win in the Pago Pago, both the favourites are on seven-day back-ups which is not usually the case in Slippers. After analysing the Golden Slipper form guide and speed maps Racenet’s analysts couldn’t get away from race favourite Sunlight. The Tony McEvoy-trained filly’s form is impossible to fault. She comes into the race on a quick back up after a dominant performance in the Group III Magic Night Stakes (1200m) last Saturday and will be aiming to make it six wins in a row. A winner of the Magic Millions 2YO Classic and Silver Slipper Stakes she is a deserving favourite. She has drawn beautifully in barrier five for a soft run behind a strong tempo and will have first crack at them in the straight. A look at the Golden Slipper race page on racenet also reveals that barrier five has provided the winner of the race four times since 1983. If Sunlight handles the wet track, she’s clearly the one to beat. Get Racenet’s full Golden Slipper 2018 tips below.
Along with the Golden Slipper an additional four Group 1’s will be decided.
George Ryder Stakes
You might think there’s not much need for the 2018 George Ryder from guide, Winx just wins – making it 24 consecutive victories and adding an 17th Group I to her resume. While the race does shape as little more than a formality for the champion mare there is still money to made using Winx as an anchor in multiples. The George Ryder Stakes often serves as an indicator for the Doncaster Handicap and away from Winx, this year all eyes will be on the performance of star three-year-old Kementari. The Godolphin colt was scintillating in the Randwick Guineas and elevated to favouritism for the Doncaster Mile – he looks the quinella horse. In for third is the last start Group I Canterbury Stakes winner Happy Clapper, which looks set to place behind Winx again after finishing second to the great mare in this race last year. They clearly look the top three and can be played in quinellas and trifectas. For our top four George Ryder 2018 tips watch below.
Rosehill Guineas
The feature for the three-year-olds is the Group I Rosehill Guineas (2000m). A capacity field comprised of best colts and geldings from Australia and New Zealand make for an intriguing and competitive race. After dissecting the Rosehill Guineas formguide, Racenet’s analysts have sided with the Darren Weir-trained Cliff’s edge which will control the race from the front. Although well beaten in the Group I Australian Guineas the son of Canford Cliffs bounced back to form with an all the way win in the Group II Alister Clark Stakes at Moonee Valley last start and has drawn beautifully in barrier one. Racenet’s analysts are willing to take on race favourite Ace High, which is yet to place on a rain affected track in four starts to date. Get Racenet’s full Rosehill Guineas 2018 tips below.
Ranvet Stakes
The stayers do battle in the Ranvet Stakes (2000m) where the Australian Cup form through the likes of Harlem and Gailo Chop will be put to the test against the Sydney and NZ form.
The Group I Ranvet Stakes (2000m) looks set to be a cracking race with a small but quality field of nine set to do battle. When delving into the Racenet’s Ranvet Stakes 2018 form guide the major form line for this race appears to be the Group I Australian Cup (2000m) taken out by Lindsay Park’s Harlem at Flemington last start. However, given the extensive history provided on Racenet’s Ranvet Stakes 2018 race page, we are willing to take on that galloper as it is a rare feat to complete the Australian Cup – Ranvet Stakes double. Instead, Racenet’s analysts are siding with the runner-up of that race Gailo Chop. Although a fast tempo is predicted Gailo Chop thrives under such pressure and has the capacity to keep finding the line. Looking at Racenet’s settling speed map the Darren Weir-trained gelding should land just behind the speed and be ready to pounce for Mark Zahra when the whips are cracking. The likely rain affected track will also play into the hands of Gailo Chop which has remained unbeaten on a heavy surface in three starts. Racenet’s Group I Ranvet Stakes 2018 tips can be found below.
The Galaxy
The Group I The Galaxy (1100m) is the feature sprint on Golden Slipper day and has attracted a capacity field of top-line sprinters. After assessing the merits of each runner using The Galaxy form guide Racenet’s analysts have sided with a horse suited by the handicap conditions of the race, Snitty Kitty. The daughter of Snitzel finished second in the Group I Oakleigh Plate (1100m) behind Russian Revolution last start when carrying 53.5kg and actually drops 1.5kg from that run here. Drawn ideally in barrier six to land on the speed without doing any work, the four-year-old is going to be extremely hard to catch with no weight on her back. A look at The Galaxy race page reveals that in the last 22 years, 18 winners have carried 55kg or less to victory and amazingly, in that same period no last start winners have won the race which only enhances our confidence. Get Racenet’s full The Galaxy 2018 tips below.
Racenet has also provided further racing tips for what is a superb day at Rosehill on 2018 Golden Slipper Day.
BEAU GESTE (Rosehill Race 1 No 4)
Odds: $7.50
Loved the first-up run of the Godolphin Street Cry three-year-old Beau Geste at Warwick Farm on March 14. Giving the leaders over four-lengths start straightening, Beau Geste rocketed to the line over 1200m and would have won the race with one more stride. Although it is a significant rise in grade on Saturday, Beau Geste’s form in the Spring showed he is a potential group horse finishing a close fourth in the Carbine Club at Flemington during Melbourne Cup Week. Arguably his best will be seen over further than the 1200m of the Chandon S Darby Munro Stakes but at $7 in early betting I am happy to have a throw at the stumps.
NETTOYER (Rosehill Race 2 No 7)
Odds: $2.90
Connections of the Wendy Roche-trained Nettoyer will be hoping the rain continues with the four-year-old daughter of Sebring ready to win fourth-up in the Mounties 50th Birthday Epona Stakes (1900m). A 10-length win at Randwick on a heavy (10) surface underlined Nettoyer’s wet track ability but I have no doubt she is more than just a wet-tracker. Nettoyer was terrific at Randwick last start finishing a close third in the Aspiration Quality after doing plenty of work in the run and Kerrin McEvoy taking over is a positive jockey change. She’s the one to beat whatever the conditions.
SUGAR BELLA (Rosehill Race 9 No 3)
Odds: $3.20
Confident the potential Group 1 Mare Sugar Bella will send us home on a winning note with a victory in the Birthday Card Stakes (1200m). With six wins from her seven starts, the Kris Lees-trained mare has gone from a Canterbury fillies and mares benchmark 67 win four runs back to an impressive last to first win in the Wenona Girl Quality last start. She’s won in soft ground and it is hard to find a reason to suggest she won’t be winning again.