Our 2025 Silver Slipper Stakes Day preview sees us take another big step toward the major Sydney Autumn Carnival feature races at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday!
Ten races will be run and won, headlined by three talent-rich Group 2 contests, and you can find a full list of 2025 Silver Slipper Day tips and best bets for Rosehill below.
Race 1 - 12:30pm AEDT
Midway Handicap (1500m)
Open race to kick off our Silver Slipper Day preview and at publish, we’re looking at $5 the field.
Rush Attack strips fitter for a nice resuming performance that saw him finished second, beaten a nose at Newcastle.
Last time in, the Brave Smash gelding races in strong and consistent form winning two of four starts for Nathan Doyle and finishing the runner up on the other two occasions.
1 Unit E/W Rush Attack
Race 2 - 1:05pm AEDT
Highway Handicap (1300m)
The Highway race is also a typically open affair with plenty of winning chances engaged, including Off The Press.
Off The Press has drawn awkwardly in barrier 15, but there’s been nothing awkward about his three runs back from a break – a pair of eye-catching victories at Quirindi and Tamworth first and second up, before a sharp run to finish within a length of the winner at Randwick last time out.
He’s hard fit and if Kerrin McEvoy can find a nice place for him in transit, he certainly looks up to something like this.
1 Unit E/W Off The Press
Race 3 - 1:40pm AEDT
Rosehill Bowling Club Handicap (1300m)
Step Aside is third-up and primed for a big effort on Silver Slipper Day.
The Redwood gelding dropped the rider in his first run back form a break but turned in a competitive performance to follow the minors over 1350m here last time out.
He’s a winner here at Rosehill previously and has options in running this week under Zac Lloyd.
1 Unit Step Aside
Race 4 - 2:15pm AEDT
Ranvet Handicap (1100m)
Bonita Queen is on the quick back-up and stepping out in a weaker race on Saturday.
The I Am Invincible mare won in BM78 company at Wyong when resuming, while she wasn’t far away from the winner at either of her two subsequent starts.
She gets some relief in the weights under Ben Osmond and can settle handy to the speed from an inside barrier.
3 Units Bonita Queen
Race 5 - 2:50pm AEDT
Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes (1300m)
The Millie Fox Stakes looks an ideal autumn launchpad for the talented Firestorm.
We haven’t seen Firestorm at the races since November, but she absolutely flies fresh and is a three-time winner from four previous first up attempts.
Jason Collett can put her in a nice position from the ideal barrier 5 and with even luck in running, I can’t find a reason why she won’t be in the finish as a key Silver Slipper Day tip for Sydney.
3 Units Firestorm
Race 6 - 3:25pm AEDT
Group 2 Silver Slipper (1100m)
Wodeton could be anything, and he’s a clear standout top pick in the Silver Slipper, in my opinion.
Having shown promise at the trials prior to debuting, Wodeton put the writing on the wall with an incredible effort at this track and trip last month, greeting the judge nearly four lengths ahead of his rivals.
He’s come up with the outside barrier this week and James McDonald isn’t in Australia to ride, but any improvement on that first run and he’ll take a power of beating heading towards the $5 million Golden Slipper later int he month.
4 Units Wodeton
Race 7 - 4pm AEDT
Group 3 Parramatta Cup (1900m)
Our Anchorage is three from three since returning from a break and sits atop my Parramatta Cup tips.
The Galileo gelding hit the line stylishly at Randwick-Kensington when resuming and has since recorded smart victories in Saturday metro company.
This is another rise in class, but he’s certainly worthy of a crack at black type.
2 Units Our Anchorage
Race 8 - 4:35pm AEDT
Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m)
Broadsiding resumes in the Hobartville Stakes but I am taking him on with Linebacker.
I thought he was tough through to the line into second in the Eskimo Prince Stakes last time out and he’s open to plenty of improvement for that run.
He boasts a win over Broadsiding right here at this track and trip, and I like that he’ll go forward and make all of his own luck up front.
2 Units Linebacker
Race 9 - 5:15pm AEDT
Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1400m)
Headley Grange has returned to the races in improved horse this time and rates as a key winning chance again on Silver Slipper Day.
The Exosphere gelding has won two of four starts back, finishing the runner up on the other two occasions and only just missing over a mile at Randwick a fortnight ago.
Getting back to 1400m looks to suit and there’s no doubting his fitness.
2 Units Headley Grange
Race 10 - 5:55pm AEDT
Chandon Handicap (1100m)
The Black Cloud was only just denied at this grade when resuming and gets a great chance to go one better this weekend.
The Shamus Award mare has been a great horse for the Joe Pride yard in races not dissimilar to this one for more than a season now, and she boasts a smart second up record.
She gets into the race well under the conditions and this looks lovely placement again.
3 Units The Black Cloud