There was a touch of nostalgia at Rosehill yesterday with the naming of races so closely associated to the Golden Slipper Stakes.

The Golden Slipper was the brain child of George Ryder, a director of the Sydney Turf Club, it was first run in 1957, won by Todman, the winning margin was eight lengths, the shortest favourite at 1-6.,

Todman was a true legendary figure, in the closing years of the fifties after breaking down he returned to the scene of his triumphs, he remained unbeaten at weight for age, thereafter at stud he sired two Slipper winners in Eskimo Prince and Sweet Embrace.

The champion was trained by Maurice McCarten, a highly respected member of the Sydney racing fraternity, he was the first and only person to win a rider’s premiership and after retiring he was champion trainer four times, until the rise of Tommy Smith.,

McCarten, a New Zealander, came to Sydney to ride Limerick at Rosehill in 1926, he remained here to pit his skills among the best jockeys this country has known, Hughie Cairns, Bill Duncan, Jim Pike, Bobby Lewis, Jim Munro, Keith Voitre, Darby Munro, Billie Cook and Frank Dempsey.

During a star studded career he trained the winner of every important race in Australia, there were many great horses that went through the stables of Maurice McCarten at Randwick, Todman won the seal of approval from the great man.