2017 Golden Slipper betting guide, runner analysis and race tips
16 of Australia’s quickest juveniles line up in Saturday’s 2017 Golden Slipper at Rosehill for the massive $3.5 million prize.
The world’s richest two-year-old race always attracts a quality field and that’s the case this Saturday. Punters are having a hard time sorting through the field to find the best runners to back, but we’ve done the hard work for you.
The heavy track conditions will likely throw a spanner into the mix, but there’s some great value on offer from the bookmakers and we’ve listed our top four chances which all offer each way value.
There are many ways to make a profit betting on the Golden Slipper so sign up with Ladbrokes.com.au which is giving boosted odds for every runner in the field.
2017 Golden Slipper updated odds and market movers
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Since the barrier draw was made earlier in the week the betting complexion has changed significantly.
Early favourite Houtzen is still the bookmakers’ elect at $4.40 after drawing barrier 16, but it opened much shorter and the confidence took a hit with some punters.
Firming right into contention is 2017 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Catchy. The Lindsay Park-trained runner opened at $8 and has come crashing down into $5 with some bookmakers.
The unbeaten filly hasn’t yet tried rain-affected track, so the betting move could be an overreaction to the barrier draw.
There are five last-start winners priced $9 or higher which pays credit to the evenness of this year’s Golden Slipper.
Golden Slipper top pick – She Will Reign
The Gary Portelli-trained She Will Reign was at the top of many punters lists before it suffered its first career defeat at Randwick last start.
The talented daughter of Manhattan Rain looked to be cruising around the home turn, but it faltered in the extremely heavy conditions and was beaten easily by race-rival Frolic.
That defeat shook the confidence of punters which had already locked in a good Golden Slipper price, but we think it could rebound in the best way possible.
By all reports it has bounced back from that defeat and the Rosehill track typically handles the wet conditions better than Randwick. It won the Silver Slipper on this track with style and that came on a slow surface, so the conditions shouldn’t be a massive problem.
Drawing barrier 13 should be ideal come Race 7 as most runners will look to go wide and it could stalk to pace and finish strongly.
It’s a wide open Golden Slipper this year which means punters are getting +500 at Ladbrokes.com.au about a filly which has incredible talent and a winning chance.
Next best – Catchy
We believe Blue Diamond form is good form and it has already been franked in Sydney this autumn when Tulip won the Magic Night Stakes.
Catchy is a talented filly for Lindsay Park which has looked super professional in four unbeaten starts. It settled back and scorched home to win the Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield last start and it beat some talented runners prior to that.
Connections have been so confident with the Fastnet Rock filly that they were prepared to try change up its racing tactics mid-preparation. They know they have a good filly on their hands and the Golden Slipper isn’t beyond its reach.
There are some concerns regarding the track conditions. All four wins have come on a good racing surface so running on a heavy track and going right handed will be an issue.
Punters don’t seem perturbed and have backed the two-year-old into +400 at Sportsbet which is the biggest move in the Golden Slipper market.
Value place chance – Pariah
Pariah is another runner with Blue Diamond form and it hasn’t done much wrong in three starts to date.
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained colt won the Canonbury Stakes on debut over the highly-touted Menari and that winning experience on this track should bolster its chances.
The son of Redoute’s Choice then went to Caulfield where it finished second in the Blue Diamond Prelude and second in the Blue Diamond Stakes.
It didn’t have everything go its way in the feature after settling wide throughout, but it should get a nice run from barrier four and Blake Shinn is riding in good form at the moment.
There’s no doubting that Pariah has enough talent to win a Golden Slipper, but the place odds appeal to us more than its current win price.
The +200 at CrownBet.com.au to place is a good value price and we’re expecting a top effort.
Long shot runner – Madeenaty
Madeenaty is an interesting runner and we’re not sure what to expect, but its current odds are too big to pass up.
The Lindsay Park-trained sprinter looked a top Slipper hope early on in its preparation after winning the Wyong Magic Millions and finishing third behind Houtzen in the Magic Millions Classic, but punters were hurting after its most recent effort.
The filly by Exceed And Excel finished second behind stablemate Ploverset as the $1.45 favourite at Flemington, but it should be able to quicken better around the turn at Rosehill.
It has superior gate speed to most of these so it could find the lead easily and give a good kick. Jockey Regan Bayliss is coming off a group one win on Saturday and a Group 2 Adelaide Cup win on Monday, so he’s full of confidence and ready to strike again.
We’re prepared to pass up the $81 for the win, but take the +1800 to place at Bet365 which is incredible value for a quality sprinter.