Golden Slipper – 2021 tips, preview and runner by runner

Track: Soft   Weather: Showers

There are 15 runners remaining for the $3,500,000 Longines Golden Slipper following the scratching of O’president, with nine colts, one gelding and five fillies. Chris Waller, James Cummings, R & M Freedman and P & P Snowden all have two runners. Three runners (Profiteer, Kalashnikov and Captivant) are sired by 2016 winner Capitalist,while two runners (Mallory and Queen Of Wizardry) are sired by Not A Single Doubt who was the sire of 2020 winner Farnan. Four runners had their last start in the Group 2 Todman Stakes, two in the Group 2 Reisling Stakes, two in the Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes, two in the Group 3 Pago Pago Stakes, two in the Group 3 Black Opal and one each in the Group 1 Blue Diamond, Group 2 Skyline Stakes and the Magic Million 2YO Classic.

The early favourite is Inglis Millenium winner Profiteer who was a close 2nd in the Todman Stakes at his last outing. Second favourite is Stay Inside who won his first two starts then got trapped in a pocket before zooming home for 4th in the Todman. Third favourite is Four Moves Ahead who comes off a nice win in the Sweet Embrace Stakes and is the only runner in the race not to have tasted defeat.

Artorius was the Blue Diamond winner making him the only Group 1 winner in the field. Anamoe won the Todman Stakes after running 3rd in the Blue Diamond. Ingratiating was held-up before finishing 5th in the Pago Pago and ran 2nd in the Blue Diamond at the start before. Home Affairs won the Silver Slipper Stakes before 3rd in the Todman. Shaquero fought hard for his win in the Pago Pago, while Mallory won the Group 3 Widden Stakes on a soft track before 3rd in the Sweet Embrace. All other runners are currently 40 to 1 or longer, including Black Opal winner Kalashnikov.

1. Shaquero

One of three runners for Chris Waller, this colt has won three of his six starts. His wins were in the Group 3 Breeders Plate in October, the $2M MM 2YO Classic at the Gold Cost in January and the Pago Pago Stakes at this track and distance on 13 March. He has the highest prizemoney in the race ($1.4 million) mainly due to the Magic Millions win. He’s on a seven day back-up and has drawn very wide in barrier 15. He will run well but the barrier is no help.

2. Profiteer

At his first start he won a Super Vobis 2YO handicap by 2.75 lengths, then he won the Inglis Milleniun by 5.3 lengths. He started favourite in the Todman Stakes where he overaced badly in front and paid the penalty later when he was nabbed on the line for a close 2nd. His sire Capitalist won this race five years ago and with Hugh Bowman aboard (who had his first Golden Slipper winner on Farnan last year) I think this colt could follow in his father’s footsteps. One of the leading hopes.

3. Artorius

Already a Group 1 winner, this Flying Artie colt followed a 4.5 length win at Sandown Hillside with a lovely win in the Blue Diamond. He is one of only two runners not to have raced in Sydney before (the other is Queen Of Wizardry) but he has trialled here. He has drawn wide (barrier 13) but I will be putting him in all my exotics.

4. Ingratiating

One of the Godolphin runners  this colt won the Listed Talindert Stakes before finishing 2nd in the Blue Diamond Stakes. At his first Sydney run he jumped awkwardly and was held up before finishing 1.2 lengths 5th in the Pago Pago. It might be wise to discount that run and include him as one of the chances.

5. Anamoe

This Street Boss colt seems to get back in his races, so drawing the outside barrier might not be a problem for him. He worked home strong from well back for 3rd in the Blue Diamond then drove through a gap and got up in the last stride for a narrow win in the Todman. I do like this colt a lot but he will need some luck to get there in a capacity field.

6. Home Affairs

Another Waller runner, this I Am Invincible colt has shown he can win on soft going with a win in the Silver Slipper in February. He was slowly away in the Todman and finished 0.6 lengths 3rd.

7. Kalashnikov

One of the Snowden runners, this son of Capitalist won the Black Opal Stakes at Canberra last start after winning a Gosford maiden at the start before. The last horse to come via the Black Opal and win the Slipper was Catbird in 1999, and although he is a lovely colt I think he is aiming too high here.

8. Stay Inside

He won his first two starts by good margins, including a 4 length win in the Pierro 2YO Plate on a soft track. Last start he was restrained back last then was locked in a pocket when he was looking for a run. When he got clear in the final 100m he came home really well for 1.7 lengths 4th in the Todman. That was an eye-catching run and he is one of the main chances.

9. Rocket Tiger

Trained at Wagga Wagga this gelding was disappointing last start when he was favourite and only ran 3rd in the Black Opal. He has won two of his four starts but my money won’t be on him.

10. O’president –  SCRATCHED

11. Captivant

NIcely bred and from a good stable. Not the roughest.

12. Glistening

She was a narrow winner of the Reisling Stakes last start, but this will be much harder.

13. Four Moves Ahead

This filly is the only runner to not have been beaten in a race. She won a 2YO Handicap by 2.8 lengths over 1150m at Kensington on a heavy track on debut, then took over at the 300m and won the Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes over 1200m at Randwick easily on soft going. She is one of the main chances, especially if the track is heavy.

14. Swift Witness

She was a close 2nd in the Group 2 Reisling Stakes, but this is much tougher.

15. Mallory

This lovely filly was 3rd in the Sweet Embrace and looks as if she still has improvement to come.

16. Queen Of Wizardry

She is the outsider of the field at triple figure odds in the early markets. She has raced twice for a win in a 2YO handicap at Eagle Farm and 4th in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast. Not here.

The following are the top 4 selections for this years race.

Jo’s Tips
8 Stay Inside
13 Four Moves Ahead
2 Profiteer
5 Anamoe

Group 1 George Ryder Stakes 2021 (Rosehill 1200m)

Group 1 Ranvet Stakes 2021 (Rosehill 2000m)

Group 1 The Galaxy 2021 (Rosehill 1100m)

Group 1 Rosehill Guineas 2021 (Rosehill 2000m)