2023 Silver Slipper Day Tips & Preview
Aft Cabin can win The Galaxy at Rosehill on Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart

2023 Silver Slipper Day Tips & Preview

Ten races will be run and won at Rosehill Gardens on Silver Slipper Day!

The traditional paths towards some of the Autumn Carnival’s headline feature races continue, particularly when a smart field of juveniles step out in the Silver Slipper, and the likes of Aft Cabin, Manzoice and Zou Tiger trade blows in the Hobartville Stakes.

I’ve run the rule over the lot, and you can find my complete 2023 Silver Slipper Day Tips below!

Highway Handicap (1400m) – 12:20pm AEDT
No. 12 Atmospheric Rock

Atmospheric Rock is the one for me in this week’s Highway Handicap.

The three-year-old son of Your Song hasn’t returned a poor performance since debuting, breaking his maiden and finishing second at his other three appearances, including a Highway race last time out.

He hasn’t been seen at the races since November, but has had the benefit of a recent trial, and looks more than up to something of this quality.

each way
Midway Handicap (1500m) – 12:55pm AEDT
No. 7 Owen County

Typically, there’s a case to be made for a few of them in Saturday’s Midway Handicap, and I am going to have a small each way play on Owen County.

Owen County stamped himself as one to watch during his two-year-old prep last autumn, culminating in a run in Group 1 company, albeit a failed tilt.

Has hasn’t won for some time, but he’ll improve from his first-up run on the Kensington course earlier this month, and I’m happy to give him another chance in something of this quality.

ACY Securities Handicap (1100m) – 1:30pm AEDT
No. 15 Parisal

Parisal faces a rise in class into the third on Silver Slipper Day, but she does have plenty of upside, and I am confident that she can win again.

The three-year-old daughter of Astern has missed placing only once in three career starts and made an ideal return to the races at Randwick-Kensington, beating her rivals by close to four lengths.

With natural improvement and from a good draw this week, she’ll be tough to toss!

Group 2 Silver Slipper (1100m) – 2:05pm AEDT
No. 3 King's Gambit

Just seven horses remain in the 2023 Silver Slipper field, and I am happy to stick with King’s Gambit.

The I Am Invincible colt announced himself with a dominant victory in the Debutant Stakes back in October, but was rolled as a $1.20 favourite in the Canonbury Stakes when resuming this time.

I am confident he’ll enjoy big improvement for that hit-out, and the $2.60 about him this week (at publish) is far more appealing.

Quayclean Handicap (1400m) – 2:40pm AEDT
No. 13 Tajneed

This rates as one of the more open races on the Silver Slipper Day program and there is a case to be made for a few of them, including Tajneed.

Tajneed hasn’t been seen at the races since October but was excellent during her brief debut campaign, winning on debut at Sandown and laying a good account for herself in a couple of feature races in the wake.

Two smart trials add confidence, as does the booking of Timmy Clark.

best bet
Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) – 3:20pm AEDT
No. 2 Mariamia

Mariamia has been faultless this time in, and she looks the one to beat again in the Millie Fox.

The Toronado mare has been a great horse for the Joe Pride yard for a few seasons now, and returned with a lovely win in BM88 company here at Rosehill last month.

She followed up that win with arguable the best performance of her career in the Expressway Stakes a fortnight ago, and she should only relish getting back into mares’ company, and up to 1300m this week.

Listed Parramatta Cup (1900m) – 4pm AEDT
No. 10 King Frankel

I absolutely love that Mark Newnham is electing to launch King Frankel’s campaign over the 1900m of the Parramatta Cup, and I think he’ll take a power of beating.

King Frankel was nothing short of outstanding last time in, winning three of four starts and finding form around some above average gallopers.

He’s had a couple of trials leading up to this return, gets into the race well under the conditions and does appear forward enough to win.

Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) – 4:40pm AEDT
Same Race Multi

Some talented gallopers will take their place in Saturday’s Hobartville Stakes field, but star-on-the-rise Aft Cabin has opened a clear $1.50 favourite.

Aft Cabin was excellent in the spring, but his prep was cruelly cut short by injury before he could take his place in the Neds Caulfield Guineas; a race in which he would have almost certainly started an odd-on favourite.

His resuming effort and win in the Eskimo Prince Stakes was exceptional and he’ll only improve for it, so I am going to select him as the winner in a Same Race Multi and pump up my odds with Communist running into the first three.

Same Race Multi selections:

  • 3 Aft Cabin (Win)
  • 9 Communist (Top 3)
Chandon Handicap (1400m) – 5:20pm AEDT
No. 9 Roots

Some talented gallopers will take their place in the penultimate race on Silver Slipper Day, including Roots.

Roots was a strong and consistent performer throughout a smart Spring Carnival campaign that was highlighted by a win in the lucrative Inglis Bracelet on Oaks Day, beating home the likes of Climbing Star.

She’s drawn and weighted well in this contest and is three wins from as many fresh attempts to date.

Cleanaway Handicap (1100m) – 5:55pm AEDT
No. 1 Andermatt

Andermatt has improved for two starts back from a spell and can win the last on Silver Slipper Day.

The Snitzel gelding has been a great horse for Godolphin since debuting, and races of this sort of standard have been his bread and butter.

He worked home well behind a few fit ones to finish fourth in a 1000m dash at Randwick a fortnight ago and will appreciate the small rise in trip third-up this week.