2016 Golden Slipper nominations up on previous years

Nominations for the 2016 Golden Slipper are up on previous years after 2006 entries were received by the Australian Turf Club on Tuesday July 7.

The Gai Waterhouse trained Vancouver was the winner of the 2015 Golden Slipper at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

The Gai Waterhouse trained Vancouver was the winner of the 2015 Golden Slipper at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

An increase on last year of one hundred and fifty yearlings were nominated for the world’s richest two year old race that will be sponsored for the first time by Swiss watchmaker Longines.

The Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) will be run at Rosehill Gardens on March 19 next year and will be the highlight of the revamped three week Golden Slipper Festival.

ATC Chief Executive Darren Pearce said that the Golden Slipper grows in status every year with this year’s winner, the Gai Waterhouse trained Vancouver, reportedly sold for $40 million as a future stallion prospect.

“The ATC continues to lift the already iconic stature of the Longines Golden Slipper and these strong nominations are a significant vote of confidence,” Pearce said.

“The worth of Vancouver as a stallion and the involvement of a global partner in Longines show the Golden Slipper as a breeding and racing event that influences the industry like no other.”

Trainer John O’Shea has the task of sifting through the one hundred and fifty-eight yearlings that have been nominated by Global racing giants Godolphin while last year’s winning trainer Gai Waterhouse has entered one hundred and thirteen youngsters.

In recent years Waterhouse has made the Golden Slipper her own, winning three of the last four with Pierro (2012), Overreach (2013) and Vancouver (2015), adding to her three other victories with Ha Ha (2001), Dance Hero (2004) and Sebring (2008).

Waterhouse shares the most number of Golden Slipper wins with her father, the legendary Tommy Smith, and will be striving next year to become the outright leading Golden Slipper winning trainer of all time.

Lindsay Park trainers David Hayes and Tom Dabernig also have plenty of ammunition with eighty-six nominations while father and son training partnership Peter and Paul Snowden have entered eight-four juveniles which matches Chris Waller’s numbers.

First acceptances for the 2016 Golden Slipper are due on Tuesday October 6, 2015, whole the final acceptances are due on March 15, 2016, the Tuesday before the race.

 

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.