Golden Slipper Journey Begins with TAB Official 2YO Barrier Trials
September 16, 2023
Early season two-year-olds debut in public under raceday conditions on Monday as the journey towards the Australian Turf Club’s iconic $5 million Golden Slipper begins at the TAB Official Two-Year-Old Barrier Trials at Royal Randwick.
Twelve heats – six heats for the colts and geldings and six for fillies– will be run on the Royal Randwick Kensington Track from 8.45am as horses contest their first public trials ahead of crucial early Spring races.
Horses will use raceday stalls and pre-parade in the Theatre Of The Horse, along with return to scale, under raceday protocols.
The Australian Turf Club will host a free breakfast for the public on the trackside lawn whilst the Australian Racing Christian Chaplaincy will host a free BBQ for strappers and stable staff at the Royal Randwick day stalls.
Monday’s heats determine first starters in the Group 3 $250,000 Arrowfield Breeders’ Plate for the colts and geldings and the Group 3 $250,000 Keeneland Gimcrack Stakes for fillies at Royal Randwick on TAB Epsom Day, 30 September.
The trials and pathway races will also be crucial towards the $1 million Inglis Golden Gift at Rosehill Gardens on 11 November – a race which will see the winner entrenched and second placegetter high in the official prizemoney order for the Golden Slipper.
First acceptances for the 2024 $5 million Group 1 Golden Slipper close before 3pm on Tuesday 3 October, 2023.
Monday’s TAB Official 2YO Barrier Trials will also be broadcast live on SKY Thoroughbred Central with an enhanced coverage hosted by Greg Radley, Ron Dufficy, Ally Mosley & Chantelle Buckley.
Full fields and raceday colours including jockeys and barriers for the trials can be found at here.
Australian Turf Club Head Of Racing and Wagering James Ross said the trials were a pivotal day around start of the Sydney Everest Carnival.
“The TAB Official 2YO Barrier Trials are a crucial step in a young horse’s racing career and those first steps on a pathway to the world’s richest race for two-year-olds now worth $5 million, plus a $1 million bonus via lead up races,’’ Mr Ross said.
“Sydney racing boasts the highest quality bloodstock in Australia and we will see several multi-million dollar yearlings step out in public for the first time.
“Many of the horses have come through leading sale rings such as strong ATC partner Inglis and other major NSW-based stud farms.
“Monday’s trials also provide the fields for the first Sydney Group two-year-old races of the season for breeders and owners in the Arrowfield Breeders’ Plate for the colts and Keeneland Gimcrack Stakes for the fillies.’’
Pathway to the Group 1 $5 million 2024 Golden Slipper
| DATE | VENUE | GROUP | RACE | DISTANCE | PRIZEMONEY |
| 30-Sep-23 | ROYAL RANDWICK | 3 | ARROWFIELD BREEDERS’ PLATE | 1000 | $250,000 |
| 30-Sep-23 | ROYAL RANDWICK | 3 | KEENELAND GIMCRACK STAKES | 1000 | $250,000 |
| 11-Nov-23 | ROSEHILL GARDENS | – | GOLDEN GIFT | 1200 | $1,000,000 |
| 16-Dec-23 | ROYAL RANDWICK | RL | INGLIS NURSERY | 1000 | $500,000 |
| 3-Feb-24 | ROSEHILL GARDENS | 3 | WIDDEN STAKES | 1100 | $250,000 |
| 3-Feb-24 | ROSEHILL GARDENS | 3 | CANONBURY STAKES | 1100 | $250,000 |
| 10-Feb-24 | ROYAL RANDWICK | L | LONHRO PLATE | 1100 | $200,000 |
| 10-Feb-24 | ROYAL RANDWICK | RL | INGLIS MILLENNIUM | 1100* | $2,000,000 |
| 24-Feb-24 | ROSEHILL GARDENS | 2 | SILVER SLIPPER STAKES | 1100 | $300,000 |
| 2-Mar-24 | ROYAL RANDWICK | 2 | SWEET EMBRACE STAKES | 1200 | $300,000 |
| 2-Mar-24 | ROYAL RANDWICK | 2 | SKYLINE STAKES | 1200 | $300,000 |
| 9-Mar-24 | ROYAL RANDWICK | 2 | YARRAMAN PARK REISLING STAKES | 1200 | $300,000 |
| 9-Mar-24 | ROYAL RANDWICK | 2 | TODMAN STAKES | 1200 | $300,000 |
| 16-Mar-24 | ROSEHILL GARDENS | 3 | MAGIC NIGHT STAKES | 1200 | $250,000 |
| 16-Mar-24 | ROSEHILL GARDENS | 3 | PAGO PAGO STAKES | 1200 | $250,000 |
| 23-Mar-24 | ROSEHILL GARDENS | 1 | GOLDEN SLIPPER | 1200 | $5,000,000 |
| Races in italics | EXEMPT from ballot Golden Slipper |
ATC MEDIA CONTACT: Brett de Vine 0419 613 455 bdevine@theATC.com.au