Real Punters Play Here – Golden Slipper

Posted on March 20, 2026March 20, 2026 | Posted by TABtouch

Is this the year that Victoria breaks its Golden Slipper drought?

Twenty-first century racing fans might find it hard to believe, but there was a time when Victoria dominated the Golden Slipper.

Lee Freedman won each one from 1993 to 1996, following wins to Ross McDonald and Rick Hore-Lacy in 1989 and 1990 gave the Vics six wins in eight years.

But the southerners have won just two editions since and none since Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra prepared Crystal Lily to win in 2010.

Victoria has had its share of chances since, with Samaready, Extreme Choice, Written By and Profiteer all starting favourite, but it’s doubtful it has had the depth it appears to have this year.

The first four home in the Blue Diamond – Streisand, Closer To Free, Guest House and Zambales – have all headed north, joining the Phillip Stokes-trained Stretan Ruler, who missed the Diamond to concentrate on the Slipper.

Most are towards the pointy end of the TABtouch market, which at 9am Thursday was headed by Chayan at $6. Guest House and Streisand were on the $8.50 second line, just ahead of Closer To Free ($9) with Stretan Ruler $17 and Zambales $19.

Streisand, Closer To Free and Guest House have not been to the races since fighting out the Diamond on February 21 and their trainers are looking to use the blueprint Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott used successfully with Lady Of Camelot two years ago.

Lady Of Camelot is the only Golden Slipper winner to come through the Blue Diamond since Sepoy completed the double in 2011 and the first to win it at their next start after the Diamond since the previous horse to complete the Diamond/Slipper double, Courtza, in 1989.

In 1989 the Slipper was run a fortnight after the Diamond and Lady Of Camelot is one of only three horses in the past 40 years to win the Slipper with a gap of at least four weeks between runs.

With 2024 being a leap year, the Golden Slipper was run 29 days after the Blue Diamond.

Flying Spur (1995) won the 1995 Slipper 28 days after running third in the VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes, while Sebring (2008) was 49 days between runs.

Along with the Victorians, Chayan comes out of the Diamond, but that Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained filly has had a run since, emphatically winning the Group 2 Reisling Stakes on March 7.

That’s the race Marhoona ran second in before winning last year’s Slipper, one of 11 who have won the Slipper out of the Reisling Stakes in the past 40 years.

Ten other Slipper winners in that time have run in the colts and geldings event on the same day, the Todman Stakes.

Seventeen of the 21 who won the Slipper off a 14-day break came off a top-two finish, while 17 of the other 19 also ran first or second at their final lead-up meaning 34 of the past 40 Slipper winners have filled a quinella spot at their previous run.

Most have also started from low barriers. Six of the seven winners from 2014 to 2020 won from double-digit gates, but Phelan Ready is the only other since 2004 with 13 of the other 15 coming from barrier six or lower, including six from the inside alley, Hidrix’s barrier this year.

Assuming the third and fourth emergencies don’t gain a start, Campione D’Italia (likely barrier two), Spicy Miss (three), Zambales (four), Music Time (six) and Streisand (nine) are those coming off a top-two finish who will start from single-digit barriers in this year’s Slipper.

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