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Always a highlight of the racing year is the Golden Slipper at Rosehill on Saturday.

It is hard to forget the race of 2000 when Belle du Jour was written off but still won. The 2019 Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday will be blue forever.

2019 GOLDEN SLIPPER - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

The Golden Slipper is a Group 1 race for two year olds conducted by the Australian Turf Club at Rosehill Gardens. It is the world’s richest race for juveniles.

The Golden Slipper was first run in 1957 and was won by the legendary Todman.

In 2019 the Slipper is worth $3.5million.

The Golden Slipper is run over 1200m under set weight conditions with the fillies having a 2kg allowance over the colts and geldings. They did have 3kg until the 2005 running. The Golden Slipper has always been run at Rosehill over that distance.

There have been 27 fillies to win the Golden Slipper with the most recent being Estijaab in 2018.

TJ Smith and Gai Waterhouse, father and daughter, hold the record with six wins with Clarry Conners, Bart Cummings and Lee Freedman having four each. John Hawkes joined them with four which includes two with his sons Wayne and Michael.

Shane Dye and Ron Quinton have four wins themselves. In fact Shane Dye and Lee Freeman both had their four wins consecutively.

Notable winners of the Golden Slipper include Todman (1957), Sky High (1960), Vain (1969), Baguette (1970), Luskin Star (1977), Manikato (1978), Sir Dapper (1983), Bounding Away (1986), Dance Hero (2004) and Pierro (2012).

In the last 25 years only Sebring (Breeders Plate – changed due to EI affected carnival), Catbird (Black Opal) and Flying Spur (VRC Sires) have not come through the Golden Slipper lead ups.

Breeders Plate winners have an amazing record onto the Slipper despite it being the first 2yo race of the metropolitan season – the likes of Sky High, Eskimo Prince, Baguette, Luskin Star, Sebring, Pierro, Vancouver and Capitalist.

Danehill and Star Kingdom have sired five Slipper winners each with Star Kingdom siring the first five winners of the Slipper.

Blue Diamond winners to win the Slipper (5) – John’s Hope (1972), Manikato (1978), Bounding Away (1986), Courtza (1989) and Sepoy (2011).

Magic Millions winners to win the Slipper (3) – Dance Hero (2004), Phelan Ready (2009), Capitalist (2016).

Silver Slipper winners to win the Slipper (6) – Eskimo Prince (1964), Baguette (1970), Luskin Star (1977), Pierro (2012), Mossfun (2014), She Will Reign (2017). Note race was switched to the Autumn in 1998.

Skyline Stakes winners to win the Slipper (5) – Sir Dapper (1983), Star Watch (1988), Guineas (1997), Prowl (1998), Dance Hero (2004).

Sweet Embrace Stakes winners to win the Slipper (3) – Dark Eclipse (1980), Ha Ha (2001), Crystal Lily (2010).

Todman Stakes winners to win the Slipper (5) – Luskin Star (1977), Marauding (1987), Tierce (1991), Pierro (2012), Vancouver (2015).

Reisling Stakes winners to win the Slipper (7) – Hartshill (1974), Burst (1992), Merlene (1996), Belle Du Jour (2000), Polar Success (2003), Overreach (2013), Estijaab (2018).

Pago Pago Stakes winners to win the Slipper (3) – Inspired (1984), Rory’s Jester (1985), Stratum (2005).

Magic Night Stakes winners to win the Slipper (5) – Toy Show (1975), Century Miss (1979), Dark Eclipse (1980), Bounding Away (1986), Bint Marscay (1993).

Even in the last few years with some races moved to Randwick like the Todman and Reisling Stakes, the Slipper winner has raced the fortnight before in those events for eight straight years.

Eight Slipper winners have gone on to sire a winner down the track – Todman (Sweet Embrace/Eskimo Prince), Vain (Inspired/Sir Dapper), Baguette (Dark Eclipse), Marscay (Bint Marscay), Marauding (Burst/Prowl), Danzero (Dance Hero), Flying Spur (Forensics), Stratum (Crystal Lily).

Six horses have gone on to win the Sydney Juvenile Triple Crown starting with the Golden Slipper – Baguette (1970), Luskin Star (1977), Tierce (1991), Burst (1992), Dance Hero (2004) and Pierro (2012).

The 2018 Golden Slipper was won by Estijaab from Oohood and Sunlight.