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Get set for the biggest day on the Sydney Autumn calendar!
For more racing and sports previews, visit the Ladbrokes Blog.
FIVE Group 1 races will be run and won at Rosehill Gardens, headlined by the world's richest race for two-year-olds, the Golden Slipper.
With undefeated colts Storm Boy and Switzerland going hoof-to-hoof for the first time alongside a talented crop of juveniles, this really does loom as one of the more intriguing Slippers since the turn of the century.
Race like the Ranvet Stakes, Rosehill Guineas, George Ryder and The Galaxy are also on the program, it's set to be a day to remember.
Check out my complete 2024 Golden Slipper Day Preview below.
RACE 1 - 12:15PM: Midway Handicap (1500m)
Open race to begin Golden Slipper Day and there is a case to be made for a few of them, including Tavs.
Tavs has won two of his last four starts and worked home well to finish fifth in a Provincial Championships Qualifier at Kembla Grange last time out.
He's hard fit and I like that he has been kept up to the mark with a trial since his last appearance.
RACE 2 - 12:50PM: Group 3 NE Manion Cup (2400m)
British raider Post Impressionist makes his Australian debut in the NE Manion Cup this weekend and looks to be a key winning chance.
Post Impressionist hasn't been seen at the races since September, but he turned in some fine performances last time in, including an eye-catching win at Haydock at his latest.
Tom Marquand rides and the horse can fight out the finish.
RACE 3 - 1:25PM: Group 3 Epona Stakes (1900m)
Osmose returned a nice performance to finish second, beaten half a length in the Aspiration Quality first-up from a spell, and the Epona Stakes looks a perfect race for her.
The Zoffany mare has been a consistent performer for Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott throughout her career, picking off some nice races and finding form around above-average talent.
The blinkers come off this week and she is drawn ideally under Timmy Clark.
RACE 4 - 2PM: Listed Darby Munro Stakes (1200m)
I am big fan of Brave Mead and confident in his chances in Saturday's Darby Munro.
Simply put, he doesn't know how to run a bad race, and the Brave Smash colt has been typically good in two runs back this time, winning the Group 3 Manfred Stakes before finishing second to Raikoke in the Zeditave last time out.
An ideal barrier and the booking of Blake Shinn enhance his chances.
RACE 5 - 2:35PM: Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m)
Think It Over wound back the clock with an exceptional performance and victory in the Verry Elleegant Stakes at his latest appearance, and he can make it two in a row in Saturday's Ranvet Stakes.
The So You Think gelding is as tough as they come, and at eight-years-old, he proved that he is still more than up to the highest level of racing.
He looks to have this field covered for class and is drawn to receive every chance under Nash Rawiller.
RACE 6 - 3:55PM: Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m)
Riff Rocket was a dual acceptor in the Ranvet Stakes field, but this is the avenue that trainer Chris Waller and connections have elected to take, and he has firmed $5 into $3.10.
Riff Rocket enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence in spring, culminating in a dominant Victoria Derby win, whole his fresh performance and win in the CS Hayes Stakes this time was outstanding.
Having made up ground to finish third in the Australian Guineas last time out, the 2000m this weekend is ideal, and he will take a power of beating.
RACE 7 - 3:55PM: Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m)
Valuable colt Militarize can increase his worth with his first win in open Group 1 company this weekend.
A two-time Group 1 winner during his two-year-old season, the son of Dundeel added the Golden Rose to his CV back in spring, while he has only just missed at each of two starts back this time.
Fitter third-up and further out in trip, the George Ryder looks a perfect race for him.
RACE 8 - 4:40PM: Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m)
This looms as one of the more intriguing Golden Slippers in recent memory, and I am going to have a couple of bets.
The first will be on early, undefeated Golden Slipper betting favourite, Storm Boy.
Storm Boy stamped himself as one to watch with consecutive wins in Sydney and Brisbane before giving them a galloping lesson in the Magic Millions Classic.
Having returned to action with another easy win in the Group 2 Skyline Stakes, he steps out in peak order this week, while the booking of reigning Golden Slipper winner Ryan Moore adds further confidence.
I'm also going to have a saver on Coleman at huge Golden Slipper odds ($41 at publish).
Coleman was nothing short of outstanding at each of his first two career starts, winning consecutive black type features, but nothing went right in the Blue Diamond Stakes and he finished down the order.
Having arrived in Sydney and tuned up with a fair effort in the Pago Pago Stakes, improvement is quite obviously required, but he has talent by the bucket load and was one of the real winners at Tuesday's Golden Slipper barrier draw.
RACE 9 - 5:20PM: Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m)
The Galaxy is almost always one of the most open Group 1 features of the autumn, and Saturday's edition looks like being no exception. I think I've found one at a big price.
Buenos Noches turned in a rare flat performance in the Newmarket Handicap, but a return to Sydney this weekend looks suitable, and he is going around The Galaxy odds of $20 (at publish).
Having always hinted at above-average ability, the Supido entire went to another level last spring, finding form around some of the world's best sprinters and ending his prep second in the Champions Sprint.
He steps out this weekend in peak order and is up to something of this quality.
RACE 10 - 5:55PM: Group 3 Birthday Card Stakes (1200m)
Olentia looks to be the one to beat in the last on Golden Slipper Day.
She didn't show her best form during a recent spring preparation, but Olentia returned to action to finish second, beaten less than half a length in the Triscay Stakes.
Her second-up record is outstanding, and I can't find a reason why she won't be in the finish.
