Rosehill race-by-race preview & quaddie | Golden Slipper Day 2024

Race 1: Midway Handicap BM72 (1500m)

We get things underway with a ‘dart board’ job in the opening event, where Elettrica goes on top in a wide-open BM72 contest. She has had the foot on the till since resuming at Canterbury on February 9 and is yet to miss the frame in all three starts this campaign. She was crowded for room at a crucial stage two starts back at this course and distance, before proving just as impressive when finishing off powerfully at Randwick last time out behind race rival Kingston Charm. The Richard & Will Freedman-trained mare gets a terrific opportunity to turn the tables with a soft draw (4), so watch for Elettrica to finish off best for the first time in the preparation.

• 1
  

  ELETTRICA

• 3
  

  WRATHFUL

• 2
  

  INVINCIBLE LEGEND

• 17
  

  TENDERIZE

Race 2: Group 3 Manion Cup (2400m)

The Group 3 Manion Cup (2400m) is one of the last chances for the stayers to make an impression for the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m), and you simply must be respecting the William Haggas-trained Post Impressionist. The son of Teofilo was a Class 2 winner at Haydock Park on September 9 before being prepared to make the trip down under, with the team targeting this race a long way out. The only concern would be the Soft track conditions on Saturday, with most of his best work on top of the ground, but when the Haggas stable send stayers over to compete in our feature races, you expect they can only run well.

• 4
  

  POST IMPRESSIONIST

• 2
  

  STOCKMAN

• 9
  

  CANBERRA LEGEND

• 3
  

  MANZOICE

Race 3: Group 3 Epona Stakes (1900m)

The Group 3 Epona Stakes (1900m) is for the fillies & mares, where Foxy Cleopatra makes the trip north for the Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young training partnership. She is rock-hard fit heading into this event fourth-up into the campaign and brings some quality Victorian form to this contest, with a recent minor placing in the Group 3 Matron Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on March 9 catching the eye. She is dual-accepted for a race at Moonee Valley as well, but if they elect to send the daughter of American Pharoah to Rosehill on Saturday, Foxy Cleopatra should relish conditions and prove ultra-competitive with 54kg on her back.

• 6
  

  FOXY CLEOPATRA

• 5
  

  OSMOSE

• 1
  

  THALASSOPHILE

• 14
  

  PRINCIPESSA

Race 4: Listed Munro Stakes (1200m)

The John O’Shea barn have only just scratched the surface with Schwarz as he makes his resumption in the Listed Munro Stakes (1200m) on Saturday. The colt by Zoustar is unfortunate not to have unblemished resume, breaking his maiden status on debut last preparation at Gosford on October 10 before being a good thing licked second-up at Moonee Valley in the Group 3 Red Anchor Stakes (1200m). He would go on to make amends at Flemington in the Listed Springtime Stakes (1400m) before being tipped out for a spell. He has impressed in three barrier trials leading into his return, and with James McDonald set to get reacquainted with the three-year-old Schwarz looks one of the better bets of the day at Rosehill.

• 6
  

  SCHWARZ

• 2
  

  BRAVE MEAD

• 13
  

  BLANC DE BLANC

• 1
  

  CORNICHE

Race 5: Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m)

The Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) is where you’ll find the best bet on the Rosehill program as the now Chris Waller-trained Via Sistina makes her Australian debut. She brings elite European form-lines to this event, with her most recent start a runner-up effort behind King Of Steel in the Group 1 Champion Stakes (2011m) on a bottomless track at Ascot on October 21. She was a dominant Group 1 winner in the Polly Stakes (2000m) at Curragh in the same preparation, and with the daughter of Fastnet Rock able to show tactical versatility, Via Sistina will prove more than capable at the first time of asking on Australian soil.

• 6
  

  VIA SISTINA

• 3
  

  BUCKAROO

• 1
  

  THINK IT OVER

• 7
  

  PLACE DU CARROUSEL

Race 6: Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m)

Online bookmakers have the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) pegged as a two-horse betting affair, as Riff Rocket and Tom Kitten get set to lock horns. The former gets the verdict in what looks to be a mouth-watering clash, with Riff Rocket returning to Sydney for the first time in the preparation. He was sensational in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 2 without winning, producing the flashing light performance when finally getting clear running room in the concluding stages. He is a proven stayer now, and with the Chris Waller barn choosing to head this way while scratching their other leading contender, Militarize, that is a note-worthy guide on what they think of his chance heading into the $750,000 feature.

• 2
  

  RIFF ROCKET

• 4
  

  TOM KITTEN

• 7
  

  IMMEDIACY

• 3
  

  CAFE MILLENNIUM

Race 7: Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m)

The Group 1 George Ryder (1500m) has drawn a capacity field of 19 and the move from the Chris Waller stable to send Militarize here instead of the Rosehill Guineas could pay dividends. He appears to be a genuine 1400-1600m galloper, with his best wins coming over this trip – including victory in the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) at this track on September 23. The son of Dundeel has never missed the frame when racing on rain-affected ground, and with conditions to suit on Saturday, Militarize can add Group 1 win number four to his already glowing resume.

• 16
  

  MILITARIZE

• 1
  

  THINK ABOUT IT

• 11
  

  NEW ENERGY

• 18
  

  ENCAP

Race 8: Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m)

The time-honoured Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) is the main event on Saturday afternoon, with an impressive crop of two-year-olds set to battle it out for the $5 million prize. The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott stable are represented by an astonishing six gallopers, including the current short-priced favourite Storm Boy at $2.30 with online betting sites. Coolmore own the second elect in the market as well, as the Chris Waller barn seek back-to-back wins in the Slipper, with Switzerland engaged as a $4.80 chance. Lady Of Camelot ($7.50) is the big market mover, while the likes of Straight Charge ($12.00) and Hayasugi ($18.00) have had solid support.

Click here for HorseBetting’s Golden Slipper 2024 preview.

Race 9: Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m)

Thanks to the scratching of stable companion King Of Sparta, King’s Gambit gets his chance to scorch the turf in the Group 1 Galaxy (1100m) on Saturday. He gets back to his most favoured Rosehill surface, where the son of I Am Invincible claimed a dominant victory in the Group 2 Roman Consul (1200m) on October 7. He was a shade disappointing first-up in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield, however, the race never unfolded in his favour, with a lack of pace bringing him undone. Jamie Kah makes the trip north to ride, and with no weight again facing the older horses, watch for King’s Gambit to explode second-up.

• 16
  

  KING’S GAMBIT

• 5
  

  AFT CABIN

• 1
  

  PRIVATE EYE

• 11
  

  SUNSHINE IN PARIS

Race 10: Group 3 Birthday Card Stakes (1200m)

Olentia will take a power of beating in the final event of the Rosehill card after an outstanding outing first-up in the Group 3 Triscay Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on February 17. She only ran into one better in the form of Semana on that occasion, who would then go on to frank the form by finishing runner-up in last Saturday’s Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m). She appears perfectly placed by the Waller camp in this event, and with James McDonald set to get the one-one throughout, Olentia can send punters home with a winner.

• 3
  

  OLENTIA
  

• 15
  

  XTRAVAGANT STAR

• 4
  

  C’EST MAGIQUE

• 6
  

  WEE NESSY