Silver Leads To Gold As Rosehill Gardens Lights Up With Stars

18 February, 2026

A major qualifying race for the Group 1 $5 million TAB Golden Slipper and a quality field of emerging three-year-old stars are just two highlights of a 10-race card at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday.

The Group 2 $300,000 Chandon Silver Slipper Stakes – one of four Group races on the program – sees the winner secure their place in the world’s richest race for two-year-olds at Rosehill Gardens on 21 March.

Ruling TAB Golden Slipper favourite Hidrix for champion trainer Chris Waller and jockey Zac Lloyd is at $4.40 TAB in the Chandon Silver Slipper Stakes, behind Saturday’s early favourite and stablemate Confederation (James McDonald) at $4 TAB.

Shiki trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott with Tim Clark aboard is next $4.80 TAB, followed by Incognito (Michael Freedman/Tommy Berry) at $5 TAB.

Victorian visitor Stretan Ruler is the only other horse under double figures at $9 TAB for trainer Phillip Stokes and jockey Chad Schofield.

The Group 2 $400,000 Kia Ora Hobartville Stakes features a clash of several of Sydney’s best three-year-olds in Ninja, Autumn Boy, Napoleonic, Shangri La Boy and the emerging Journeyman.

The Group 2 $300,000 Vinery Stud Millie Fox Stakes and a capacity field in the Group 3 $250,000 Parramatta Cup add further Blacktype to the card.

Australian Turf Club Interim CEO Steve McMahon said Saturday’s program continued a stream of Australia’s best horses racing in Sydney ahead of the official start of the Autumn Racing Carnival in March.

“We have already seen some of the very best return to racing ahead of Autumn and this Saturday again offers an array of emerging stars,’’ Mr McMahon said.

“The Chandon Silver Slipper is always a strong guide to the ultimate prize in two-year-old racing, the $5 million TAB Golden Slipper, just a month away.

“Being trackside with family, friends and ATC Members to see these equine stars live in action is a sporting and entertainment experience like no other.’’

Full fields for all races at Rosehill Gardens are available here and full TAB Fixed Odds here. 

Ninja (Michael Freedman/Tommy Berry) opens at $3.50 in the Kia Ora Hobartville Stakes from Napoleonic (John O’Shea and Tom Charlton/Zac Lloyd) and Autumn Boy (Chris Waller/James McDonald) each at $4 TAB.

Shangri La Boy (Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott/Tim Clark) is at $7 TAB.

The Kia Ora Hobartville has been won in previous years by a host of superstar horses including Broadsiding, Celestial Legend, Anamoe, The Autumn Sun and Pierro.

Chris Waller and James McDonald combine with Lazzura ($2.50 TAB) in the Group 2 $300,000 Vinery Stud Millie Fox Stakes, followed in markets at $5.50 TAB by Oh Diamond Lil, trained by David Pfieffer and ridden by Jason Collett.

Early $3.50 TAB favourite in the Group 3 $250,000 Parramatta Cup is the first emergency Sam Hawkens for trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton with Zac Lloyd aboard, ahead of two horses at $4.40 TAB each – Piggyback for Ciaron Maher and Dylan Gibbons, and Travolta for the Waller and McDonald combination.

General Admission tickets for the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival – which runs from 14 March to 18 April at Rosehill Gardens and Royal Randwick – are on sale, including the popular reserved trackside packages.

For all racing, ticketing and general information click here.

AUSTRALIAN TURF CLUB MEDIA CONTACT:

Brett de Vine

0419 613 455

bdevine@theATC.com.au