News

Golden Slipper fits for Sydney racing program after date change

11th Sep 2014

Sydney Morning Herald - Chris Roots - Friday, 12 September 2014

Golden Slipper day will shine again and include five group 1s on a new March date after the move of The Championships to the first two weeks in April was approved on Thursday.

The Australian Pattern Committee signed off to allow the Sydney carnival to move forward a week, but in the other big change the Golden Slipper will be run on the second day of the Rosehill carnival, so it can emerge from the shadow of the Randwick showpiece.

Slipper day has built a reputation over several years as the best and most complete day of racing in the country, but, in the rush to establish The Championship earlier this year, lost some lustre because of the promotion and quality of racing at Randwick.

Golden Slipper day will be held on March 21 and the $3.5 million two-year-olds' race will be joined by the Rosehill Guineas, George Ryder Stakes, The Galaxy and Ranvet Stakes.

"Golden Slipper day is the big winner out of the move because we go back to five group 1s, instead of the three of last year," ATC general manager of racing Matt Rudolph said. "Slipper day is the best of racing, while The Championships is the best week and a destination for all racing fans."

The Championships will bookend the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and attract the main players in the racing game from around the world.

"The change in the program gives horses several different ways of getting to the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, which is the feature of The Championships," Rudolph said.

"The Ranvet stays on the same day but moves in the program and it is now three weeks out from the Queen Elizabeth, and gives trainers another option in placing their horses.

"The Championships will have four group 1s on each of the [two] days and once again form the focus of the carnival."

The move of the Ranvet means it will be a week after the Australian Cup at Flemington, splitting the two weight-for-age, 2000-metre contests.

The Randwick Guineas and the Australian Guineas will be run on the same day, March 7, next year but in allowing the two group 1 miles for three-year-old to clash, the committee noted they drew on different pools of horses.

In the past five years, 133 horses have started in the features but only six ran in both, Mosheen completing the Guineas double in 2012.

The pattern committee also upgraded 14 races; the Run To The Rose and Golden Pendant moved up to group 2 for next year's renewals.