It’s one of the biggest days on the Australian racing calendar, and ten races are highlighted by five Group 1 features on 2022 Golden Slipper Day!
The rail will be set out two metres around the entire course at Rosehill Gardens and at publish, we’re faced with a track rated in the Heavy (8) range.
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Race 1 – 12:10pm – Midway Handicap (1500m)
Not the easiest way to begin the day from a betting perspective and at publish, we’re up with $7 the field.
Akhtar hasn’t been seen at the races since October, but he has returned some nice performances during his short career, and we can have something on each-way this week.
The I Am Invincible colt found form around some talented horses last time, winning at Randwick-Kensington most notably.
This is looks a nice launchpad for him.
Race 2 – 12:45pm – Listed Darby Munro Stakes (1200m)
Mazu has really started to realise his potential this prep, and he can record another win in the Darby Munro.
The Maurice gelding won the Listed Brian Crowley at the end of his last prep, and he picked up where he left off with a nice win in BM78 company last month.
He steps out this week third-up and following a smart win in the Fireball Stakes, and I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish again.
Race 3 – 1:25pm – Group 3 Queen’s Cup (2400m)
Surefire’s first-up performance in Australia was outstanding, and the former NE Manion Cup looks a lovely race for him.
The Fastnet Rock gelding was excellent in the UK earlier in his career, finding form around some world class gallopers and ending his tenure with consecutive wins.
He let down with an impressive turn of foot over 2000m last month, and he will only improve for that effort.
Race 4 – 2:00pm – Group 3 Epona Stakes (1900m)
Le Lude can make it two in a row when she takes her place in the Epona Stakes.
The Lope De Vega mare flashed late to fill the minors in the Millie Fox Stakes when resuming, and her last-start effort in the Aspiration Quality was the best of her career to date.
Fitter third-up, she’ll take a power of beating again.
Race 5 – 2:40pm – Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m)
Just six horses will contest the Ranvet Stakes and unsurprisingly, Verry Elleegant has opened a very short favourite.
I think she’ll win, but $1.40 is too short for me, and I am happy to watch.
Race 6 – 3:15pm – Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m)
Anamoe will take his place in the Rosehill Guineas, and he looms as the one to beat again.
The Street Boss colt has been a star for Godolphin since making his debuting, and he won both the Inglis Sires’ and the Caulfield Guineas most notably in 2021, while ending his year an agonizingly close second in the Ladbrokes Cox Plate.
He has returned to the races in typically excellent form this time, was unlucky not to get there in the Randwick Guineas last time, and he can go one better this week.
Race 7 – 4:00pm – Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m)
Mo’unga can return to winning form in the 2022 George Ryder Stakes.
Mo’unga went to another level under the care of Annabel Neasham in 2021, and won the Rosehill Guineas on this day, while returning in the spring to win the Winx Stakes most notably.
He was excellent when second against the pattern of the day in the Group 1 Futurity when resuming in Melbourne last month, and this looks the perfect second-up target for him.
Race 8 – 4:45pm – Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m)
This is one of the most open Golden Slipper fields since the turn of the century, and there is a case to be made for many juveniles, including Russian Conquest.
Russian Conquest stamped herself as a filly to follow with consecutive wins when debuting, and she was sent for a break after running the well-fancied Coolangatta to a head in the Magic Millions Classic.
She clearly needed the hit-out when fourth in the Reisling Stakes first-up this time, but I am expecting big improvement for that run, and she is a touch of overs at Golden Slipper odds of $14.
Race 9 – 5:20pm – Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m)
This is another wide-open edition of The Galaxy, with a case to be made for almost every galloper.
Ballistic Lover looks to be a very intriguing entrant in my opinion, and I am going to have something on her each-way.
The Smart Missile mare hasn’t been seen at the races since October, but she absolutely flies fresh, winning three of five at this point of her prep, and finishing second on another occasions.
She finished fourth in the Moir Stakes in the spring and went to the paddock after finishing second in the Begonia Belle, and her recent trials have been excellent.
Race 10 – 5:55pm – Group 3 Birthday Card Stakes (1200m)
I’m going to give It’s Me another chance third-up in the Birthday Card Stakes.
She hasn’t shown her best in two starts back from a long spell this time, but we know how good It’s Me can be at her best, and she won four from four during her debut prep.
Under Hugh Bowman and from the good draw, I think this looks a lovely race.