2026 Golden Slipper Runner-by-Runner Preview & Tips

Slipper Day is here and Ladbrokes have unpacked the entire Golden Slipper Stakes field providing our full runner-by-runner preview and insider tips below!

The world’s richest two‑year‑old race is back, and the $5 million Golden Slipper has delivered a full field stacked with serious juvenile talent chasing glory over 1200m at Rosehill.

This race has produced some absolute weapons over the years — think Dance Hero, Sepoy, Capitalist, Farnan and Shinzo — and it’s often the launching pad for the next big thing in Australian racing.

Fillies have had a real grip on the Slipper lately too, with Lady Of Camelot (2024) and Marhoona (2025) going back‑to‑back, and the girls are well‑fancied again.

Sitting on top of the 2026 market is the classy Chayan, the I Am Invincible filly looking to make it three straight for the fillies.

So, will the last start Reisling winner rise to the occasion? Or is there an upset pending from further down the markets with a host of last start champs looking to frank their lead-up form in the grand finale.

Read on for our expert runner-by-runner guide to the 2026 Golden Slipper Stakes!

No. 1 Fireball (7) – Chris Waller

FIREBALL (7) dons the No. 1 saddlecloth in Saturday’s feature as the first of the three Waller-trained hopes in the mix.

James McDonald is sure to surpass the G.O.A.T. Damien Oliver’s all-time Group 1 record sometime soon, maybe even on Saturday, and the superstar hoop has been put aboard this nicely bred Snitzel colt.

Fireball won the $2 million Inglis Millennium in early February before finishing a midfield sixth only 1.37 lengths away in the Group 2 Skyline Stakes when drawn the outside alley on an unsuitably Soft track.

Trialled well since here at Rosehill and he’s got the sniff of improvement pending.

Gets conditions to suit now with a likely Good-rated track working to his advantage.

No. 2 Closer To Free (17) – Danny O’Brien

CLOSER TO FREE (17) has drawn near the outside rail but he remains one of the best in Slipper betting despite the gate.

The early market mover, this Danny O’Brien-trained Street Boss colt has been smashed from $15 into $9 at time of publish, but is there any merit following the money trail?

Lightly raced, he won the Blue Diamond Prelude on debut at a big price which is no easy task.

His Group 1 Blue Diamond run for second behind the winning filly was enormous as he boxed on well and he heads north now for his first Sydney assignment.

While that performance caught the eye, I’m not sure how he’ll go on his other leg and as the expected leader, he’s got some work to do.

Think he’ll get swamped late.

Happy to leave out.

No. 3 Guest House (10) – Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr

GUEST HOUSE (10) was one of the early boom colts from the Price & Kent Jnr yard and remains under $10 for the win despite back-to-back losses leading up to this.

The son of top-tier sprinter, Home Affairs, he made an immediate impact winning at Cranbourne on debut back in December as the odds-on fancy with 59kg in a 2YO’s handicap.

Was second past the post as the beaten short favourite in the boys’ Blue Diamond Prelude race before rounding out the Blue Diamond trifecta only a length beaten with excuses.

With regular rider Jamie Melham on Closer To Free, Guest House benefits from the booking of the airborne Zac Lloyd whose sure to give him every chance.

Even with a favourable change of hoops however, I’m not convinced the Melbourne form lines will stack up.

No. 4 Warwoven (14) – Bjorn Baker

One of the big dangers in this year’s Slipper, WARWOVERN (14) brings serious X‑factor despite drawing out in gate 14.

He’s on the quick back‑up after smashing them in the Pago Pago Stakes last weekend, and that win — over this exact track and trip — has him right in the frame.

Wide barriers have produced plenty of Slipper winners before, so the draw isn’t the worry it looks on paper.

The Bjorn Baker colt has done little wrong in four starts, winning three, and Rachel King sticks after giving him a gem of a ride last week.

He showed a sharp turn of foot to put that race away and looks to have bounced out of it beautifully.

The Pago Pago/Slipper double has been done before — Shinzo pulled it off in 2023 — and Warwoven has the profile to do the same.

Tough, professional, and improving at the right time, he’s a genuine winning hope for mine.

No. 5 Paradoxium (18) – Bjorn Baker

PARADOXIUM (18) is another of the widest-drawn Slipper hopes but punters seem skeptical of ruling out this other Baker trained fancy.

The Extreme Choice colt is already living up to his blueblood pedigree having won two from three to date.

His debut saw him finish a close fourth in the Group 3 Breeders’ Plate at Randwick last October before he was put away for the autumn.

Hasn’t put a hoof wrong this prep coming into the Slipper off back-to-back wins.

The first, which put him in Slipper calculations, was in the Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic by a commanding 2.84 lengths in December.

Kept fit with a Rosehill trial in February, he then went around in the Group 2 Todman Stakes and was ultra-impressive saluting by 1.43 lengths in one of the key lead-ups.

Jason Collett sticks aboard and he’s got a terrific record on this up-and-comer.

He’ll love the Good going and will have to be taken forward from the gate.

Could use up a bit too much early energy, however, so, based on the alley, I’m going to have to give him a miss.

No. 6 Stretan Ruler (13) – Phillip Stokes

STRETAN RULER (13) lines-up as one of the value Slipper fancies for exotics and looks well overlooked in the markets.

The Phillip Stokes-trained Wild Ruler colt is one of the better tried in the field with Saturday marking his fifth starts.

His sole win came here at Rosehill two back in the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) when beating home Eviction Notice by nearly four lengths in an absolute demolition job.

Failed to go back-to-back in the Todman running second when up in distance but he returns to a track he’s proven at now fit and ready to atone.

The Todman replay shows just how good he was late when getting through the gears to dig deep the closing stages.

Should avoid the jostle from the alley and will be there when it counts again.

Keep safe.

No. 7 Zambales (6) – Anthony & Sam Freedman

The Freedmans saddle-up ZAMBALES (6) in this year’s Slipper field from a good gate six draw with Nash Rawiller coming aboard in yet another jockey change.

Rawiller will be the fifth hoop in as many starts to jump on the back of this Godolphin-raced colt, and I don’t love all the saddle rotations.

A perennial runner-up, he’s finished second best in three of his four starts so far, including at his latest when beaten a nostril flare by Grinzinger Heart in the Group 2 VRC Sires’ (1400m) on March 7.

Run prior saw him cross a length fourth in the Blue Diamond at 20/1 and I think he’s suited to the drop back to six furlongs again.

Yet to race the Sydney way, and that’s always a query with these youngsters, but the blinkers go on and a top four run wouldn’t surprise.

No. 8 Music Time (8) – Gratz Vella

MUSIC TIME (8) is at a huge price to hand Vella a monster prize on the weekend and he comes in flying off a hat-trick of wins.

The All Too Hard gelding from Canberra continues to improve and handle whatever is thrown his way.

Got home ground advantage completing the Preview / Black Opal double at his latest two, with his Group 3 win in the second leg on March 8 seeing him overcome barrier 12 of 13 to run away late by nearly two lengths.

Jockey Pierre Boudvillain is riding with a terrific touch and continues his strong association with this flyer who faces an acid test now.

One who would benefit from any rain and the give out of the ground.

Going well but doesn’t come via the right lead-up races so will likely find this a bit too hard.

No. 9 Campione D’italia (4) – Chris Waller

CAMPIONE D’ITALIA (4) lines up at a nice price for Waller and gets the benefit of barrier four.

This son of Snitzel was flat on debut when dead last in the Listed Lonhro Plate back in early February but improved out of sight to deny them by a whisker at 40/1 in the Skyline.

The in-form Damian Lane, who rode last year’s Golden Slipper winning filly Marhoona, comes aboard for the first time but did get a sit on him in a March 10 trial here crossing a distant fourth.

Maps to sit back, relax, and launch late.

Tough ask in a field this size to round them all up but I don’t think he’ll disgrace himself either.

No. 10 Hidrix (1) – Chris Waller

HIDRIX (1) is also drawn well for the Waller stable with the inside alley which recently produced back-to-back Slipper winners with Fireburn (2022) and Shinzo (2023).

It’s been a minute since Kerrin McEvoy bagged a Slipper win aboard the great Sepoy back in 2011and he takes the reins of this grey whose out to $34 now at time of publish.

Raced straight into the winner’s stall on January 31 putting 1.7 lengths on his rivals in the Group 3 Canonbury (1100m) here at Rosehill before a next-up third in the Silver Slipper.

Wasn’t the greatest lead-up when fifth in the Todman and it is well documented that Slipper winners usually come via a top two run.

Statistically that rules him out and explains why he’s drifted notably for Saturday.

That said, he maps to get the run of the race so appeals for exotics at the price.

No. 11 Incognito (16) – Michael Freedman

Trainer Michael Freedman eyes his second Golden Slipper trophy in as many years following the win by Marhoona last year, but his chance at successive victories is one of the rank outsiders with INCOGNITO (16) paying 40/1 at time of publish.

Tricky gate for jockey Tommy Berry to overcome on the Stay Inside colt who is winless since taking out the Breeder’s Plate as a debutant in the spring.

Fresh, his fifth in the Canonbury had him beating just one other runner over the line, and he’s not really been able to recapture the kind of form you want ahead of a race like the Slipper.

Fourth in both the Silver Slipper and Todman and, even though he was flashing late making up all the ground from last on the turn for home in the Silver Slipper, I don’t think he’ll be turning the tables on the lot that has beaten him home of late.

No. 12 Streisand (11) – Clinton McDonald

The first of the fillies in the field taking on the boys and looking to add to the exception record by the girls in this great race, STREISAND (11) is an interesting prospect for trainer Clinton McDonald.

She’s being kept safe by the bookies at single figures being a last start Group 1 winner, and this bonnie daughter of Magnus heads north for the first time in sensational form.

In her five starts in Victoria to date she’s run out of the money just once and has really hit her stride now having completed the Prelude / Blue Diamond double.

Was underrated for the Caulfield Group 1 saluting at a big price, and she’ll be ridden by her Diamond winning hoop Ben Melham again here chasing the rare interstate double.

Only five have done the Blue Diamond / Slipper double, with Sepoy (2011) the last, so historically she faces a defining task.

This is tougher than her last start and getting a juvenile to peak twice is never easy, but she’s rock hard fit, firing on all cylinders and must be respected on class alone.

No. 13 Spicy Miss (5) – Ciaron Maher

SPICY MISS (5) is the sole chance for maestro horseman Maher to bag his first Golden Slipper, and she’s drawn a dream in barrier five.

With Zac Lloyd swapping saddles to partner Guest House in the big race, this in-form daughter of Trapeze Artist has Craig Newitt as a replacement rider.

Kicked off her career here last November when second in the $1 million Golden Gift and was second again fresh in the Lonhro Plate losing few admirers.

Bounced back and shrugged her maiden status on February 28 claiming a narrow but convincing win in the Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.

With the 1200m box ticked and kept fresh since, Spicy Miss definitely shapes up as one of the better value hopes.

Third-up and hitting her straps at the right time, there’s a few pointers that she shouldn’t be discounted despite this being a notable rise in opposition than the field she put away for her soft last start win.

Ideal gate, no need to weather watch as she’s got the versatility to handle all conditions and she could be there in the trifecta.

No. 14 Chayan (12) – Annabel & Rob Archibald

Now we land on our Slipper favourite with the Archibalds saddling up the talented CHAYAN (12) who is out to be the first top elect in the markets to salute since Farnan ($4.80 in 2020).

This progressive daughter of I Am Invincible went to another level third-up when coming off a tough Blue Diamond run for seventh with excuses to relish her first Sydney task annihilating her fellow fillies with a three-length romp home in the Reisling.

Profiles similarly to Tempted who completed the Slipper trifecta after a luckless run in the race last year.

Estijaab (2018) was the last filly to do the Reisling / Golden Slipper double and there’s plenty of market support for the highly rated Chayan to be the next on Saturday.

J-Mac might be off, but Craig Williams is certainly not a bad replacement, and his classy mount will make the most of a slick tempo.

Deserving favourite with claims for the punters.

No. 15 Shiki (9) – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott

SHIKI (9) lines up for the Waterhouse/Bott partnership who have a knack for getting juveniles to peak at the right time.

The Too Darn Hot filly has her sixth start on the weekend with Regan Bayliss coming aboard in place of Timmy Clark.

She won at the Gold Coast back in January carrying 58kg to an impressive win in easier grade before finding the Magic Millions 2YO Classic too tough crossing seventh behind Unit Five.

Fifth in the Silver Slipper at her latest when well beaten again but did trial very nicely here on March 10 giving the indication she could be set to improve.

Tough one overall to get a gauge on but the 70/1 price has scared me off.

No. 16 Pembrey (19) – Tony Gollan

PEMBREY (19) has a horror gate, but Brisbane’s Tony Gollan is enjoying plenty of success of late and if it weren’t for the alley there could be claims for a top three run by this Queensland raider.

As it stands, the alley rules her out for the win.

Still, she’s a beautifully bred daughter of Prague who has won two from three, so she knows how to find the line.

Improved on her close fifth only 1.5 lengths off Spicy Miss in the Sweet Embrace to stamp her Slipper ticket in last weekend’s Magic Night Stakes.

Impressed as the favourite in that but had the McDonald master touch helping her cause.

Kiamichi (2019) is the sole filly to do the Magic Night / Slipper double since Bint Marscay (1993) so that doesn’t bode well for Pembrey on Saturday.

Won’t get the same favours here on the seven-day turnaround with plenty of work to do if she’s to cross and lead as expected from the gate.

Happy to leave.

Emergencies:

No. 17e Agrarian Girl (20) – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott

No. 18e Medicinal (15) – Ben, Will & JD Hayes

No. 19e Gin Twist (2) – Ben, Will & JD Hayes

No. 20e Screen Icon (3) – John Thompson

Good luck punters!