The
Australian Turf Club (ATC) has received a record amount of initial nominations
for the 2019 Golden Slipper.
Connections of 2452 horses have paid the entry fee for the world's richest
juvenile race, considerably more than the previous record of 2216 in 2007.
The 2019 Golden Slipper is scheduled for March 23 at Rosehill and once again
has a war chest of $3.5 million on offer.
Godolphin has the highest representation with 140 entries while the Lindsay
Park empire of David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig accounts for 136
two-year-olds.
Six-time Golden Slipper winning trainer Gai Waterhouse, who is nearing the end
of her second season of training in partnership with Adrian Bott, has nominated
106 juveniles.
Snitzel not surprisingly heads the list of stallions with 112 of his progeny in
the mix, seven more than I Am Invincible and 12 more than first season sire
Deep Field.
ATC acting chief executive officer James Heddo said the influence of the Goden
Slipper on Australian racing was as strong as ever.
"The Longines Golden Slipper is what every owner, trainer and breeder dreams of
and wants to win from the moment a horse takes its first steps,'' Mr Heddo
said.
"These record nominations fully support the ATC's determination to continue to
put the Longines Golden Slipper on the pedestal it deserves.
"More than ever, the Longines Golden Slipper continues to shape the Australian
racing and breeding industry like no other.''
Click here to view the first nominations for the 2019 Golden Slipper.
Breednet will have an in depth analysis of the 2019 Golden Slipper nominations next week.