Golden Slipper / Andy Morris / 12 March 2009 / Leave a comment Bet Now

In total, 25 races make up the 2009 Golden Slipper Festival.

Australia's leading owners, trainers and jockeys will race for a slice of pie valued at $10,900,000 and topped with eight Group 1 and eight Group 2 races.

Success in these races can send the value of a horse sky high and flow on to those breeders all over the land in possession of relatives lucky enough to include the winners close up in their pedigree.

It is exciting and nerve wracking stuff.

The first day of the Golden Slipper Festival is Saturday 21 March.

The $600,000 Coolmore Classic (G1) for fillies and mares always attracts a capacity field. Last year Eskimo Queen knocked off the popular Hot Danish. But this year Hot Danish is racing in great form and could easily avenge that defeat and join great mares like Emancipation, Bounding Away, Assertive Lass, Sunline and Tuesday Joy on the honour roll of winners.

Also on the program is the wonderful $400,000 Ranvet Stakes (G1) at weight-for-age over 1900 metres. In 2008 Tuesday Joy and Darren Beadman thrilled the crowd with an easy 1 ¾ length win. History could easily repeat here with Darren expected to be on course to ride More Joyous in the Reisling Stakes (G2). It is make or break time for the two-year-olds as they vie for a spot in the Golden Slipper with last ditch efforts in the Reisling Stakes for fillies and the Todman Stakes for colts and geldings.

The second day of the Golden Slipper Festival features the $500,000 Dubai Rosehill Guineas (G1) for three-years-old over 2000 metres. This is the race Octagonal, Saintly and Nothin' Leica Dane famously fought out in 1996.

Always a major source of quality thoroughbreds the Rosehill Guineas is in the top echelon of races in Australia with legends such as Phar Lap, Ajax, Tulloch, Dulcify, Kingston Town and Strawberry Road among a host of outstanding winners. And there is an 11th hour chance for two-year-olds to sneak into the Golden Slipper field by winning the Pago Pago or Magic Night Stakes.

These great preliminaries all lead to Golden Slipper Day where the fare on offer is beyond belief.

The world's richest race for two-year-olds, the $3.5 million AAMI Golden Slipper, heads a program packed with excitement. There is just so much riding on the Slipper with the result certain to become a life changing experience for winning connections. For those who think they have it all in the Harbour City there are no bigger bragging rights than 'I won the Slipper'.

The undercard is hardly that with the stayers centre stage in the $2.250 million The BMW over 2400 metres and the best of Australia's sprinter/milers on show in the $400,000 Cathay Pacific George Ryder Stakes (G1) over 1500 metres.

Last year we all gasped as Weekend Hussler sprinted away to knock off an all star field. The fillies and mares do battle in the $400,000 Queen of the Turf Stakes (G1) while the best fillies in the land head to the $400,000 Storm Queen Stakes (G1) on their way to the AJC Oaks.

For members of the fairer sex don't forget to see your farrier for some sensible shoes and don't do your girth up too tightly.

Catch you at Rosehill Gardens - and remember the train from Sydney stops right at the doorstep.