What History Says – Choices Flooring Golden Slipper
This Saturday night sees the flashpoint of the two-year-old season at Gloucester Park; the Group 1 Choices Flooring-Golden Slipper (2130m).
First run in 1968 when it was won by Sordice, the Golden Slipper honour roll features some of the best pacers this state has produced including San Simeon and Chandon.
In more recent times Beaudiene Boaz, Mitch Maguire, Jack Mac and Franco Edward have added their name to that list.
The Golden Slipper was originally run over a mile and has slowly increased to its current 2130m distance.
Chris Lewis’ name features on the honour roll more than any other.
The champion reinsman won his first Golden Slipper in 1987 with Pardon Me Boys, who he also trained.
Lewis also scored victories with Harry Gunn (1995), Saab (1997), Talladega (1999), The Jobs On (2004), Akido Whitby (2006), Western Cullen (2011) and Jack Mac (2017).
Four of those winners were trained by Ross Olivieri, who also has an imposing record in the race.
Fred Kersley has also played a prominent role in the race’s history driving five winners in 1983 (Lumber Leon), 1986 (Paavo), 1992 (Chandon), 1996 (Salinger) and 2002 (Cams Legend).
Kersley also trained three of those winners in Paavo, Salinger and Lumber Leon.
Lewis gets the chance to add to his impressive record in the race when he teams up with the Justin Prentice-trained Manning.
Earlier this season, Manning was an impressive winner of the Pearl Classic.
Seven horses have completed the Pearl Classic-Golden Slipper double; Whitbys Miss Penny (1990), Whitbys Merit (1993), Disco Force (2000), Genuine Numbers (2001), The Jobs On (2004), Jack Mac (2017) and Franco Edward (2018).
Jaspervellabeach took out the first of the key lead up races to the Slipper earlier this year in the Champagne Classic.
The Kristy Elson-trained pacer will be out to become the first horse to complete the Champagne Classic-Golden Slipper double since her father Gary trained Sprinter to do that feat in 2015.
Some Copper Beach will be looking to emulate the feat of winning the Gold Bracelet-Golden Slipper double, most recently achieved by Arma Xpress in 2012.
2019 Golden Slipper Field
1 JASPERVELLABEACH
2 STAR FROMTHEPALACE
3 ADVANCE YOUR DREAM
4 SOME COPPER BEACH
5 ARISTOCRATIC STAR
6 SECRET OPERATION
7 MANNING
8 BEE JAYS BOY
9 POISEDTOPOUNCE
10 POWER AND GRACE NZ
11 MAJOR MARTINI
12 JAXON JONES
13 SWEET MADDISON NZ (Emg 1)
14 AMERICAN COLT NZ (Emg 2)
Tim Walker
Image: Scott Hamilton