The field for the Golden Slipper Stakes, to be decided on Saturday week, is beginning to take shape, with the final acceptance of 16 runners and two emergencies from a group of 40 horses that have won at least $30,000 in prize money.

Earthquake, Mossfun, Ghibellines, Valenti and Believe Yourself are the only horses that are exempt from a ballot.

The onetime favorite, Unencumbered, has slipped out of the order of betting after being beaten twice since winning the Magic Millions in early January.

It a huge ask to expect a horse to be fully wound up for the Magic Millions and come back three months later for the Golden Slipper, the modern day racehorse is just too fragile.

Colts rarely come back as quickly as geldings after a short let up, Dance Hero was a gelding when he won the Magic Millions and the Golden Slipper.

At this stage Jabali looks a definite runner after discussions with the major owners Eliza Park International, whilst the colt is still a maiden he would be assured of a start based on the prize money earned for running second to Earthquake in the Blue Diamond Stakes.

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.

Glen Boss will miss the Rosehill Guineas meeting through suspension after shifting in on Streama during the running of the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes at Randwick.

Boss said “I reacted quickly as I could to steer my mount away from Red Tracer, the eventual third placegetter.”

He will return to riding on April 3, two days before the Golden Slipper Stakes meeting at Rosehill.

Samaready Returns to the valley

Samaready is primed to take her place in the William Reid Stakes on Friday night, she has not won a race this preparation and this could easily be her swansong as she is unlikely to run in Sydney.

Vale Jim McFadden

The passing of Jim McFadden recently saw the closing chapter in the life of one of the most remarkable men of his time, recognized as the complete authority on breeding of the thoroughbred.

He was educated at the University of Sydney, in veterinary science, before becoming the Keeper of the Stud from 1949 to 1985. during that time he published 13 volumes of the Stud Book.

He also had time to publish sires of Australia and New Zealand, from the time of the arrival of the first fleet to the mid sixties, plus all the families with their tap roots up to1970, without the modern aid of a computer.

Jim was 93 when he passed on, a remarkable man, he dedicated much of his life to the thoroughbred horse and its breeding.

Veteran Sire Still Popular

The years have not wearied Sequalo, he stole the show on the opening day of the Magic Millions March Yearling Sales when two colts by him were purchased for $80,000 and $85,000 respectively.

Now approaching his 24^th year he is still in service, he covered 74 mares last season at Lynhurst Stud, with the majority in foal.

Sequalo was a handy sprinter, when trained in Melbourne he won 10 races here including the Linlithgow Stakes, the Chirnside Stakes and the Moir Stakes, all Group 2 races.

When it came time to put him to stud there were no offers from Victorian studs, the Kruger family of Lyndhurst Stud, at Warwick, soon snapped him up with the result he has sired winners of over $37 million, the only Victorian above him is Bel Esprit, on a touch over $38 million.

I can remember when our stud owners scoffed at the thought of standing Smokey Eyes, it was the Kruger family that put their hand up, they haven’t looked back since then.

Fiorente About To Return

Fiorente looks like opening his Autumn campaign in the Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday, the stable is pleased with him since winning the Australian Cup.

He has worked well since his return to Sydney, his work was pleasing at Randwick yesterday morning, he was bright and was keen to get on with the job, only does as much as he needs to, there is always a bit left in the tank.

Its A Dundeel is sure to be his biggest threat, he is the best of the four year brigade, however, Fiorente is in a class of his own, they don’t come along like him all that often.

Shamexpress To Gallop At Flemington

Shamexpress trainer, Danny O’Brien, will meet the media at his Flemington stables tomorrow morning for question time, and photos, leading into the horse’s engagement in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday evening.

This will be the last Group1 in Melbourne for the current season.

Those that invested heavily in Zoustar, as a potential stud investment, would have been biting their fingernails to the quick after the colt’s dismal showing in the Canterbury Stakes at Randwick.

Whilst there may be legitimate excuses for the run the big investors are not looking for excuses where money is concerned.

Chris Waller could not offer any explanation for the run, stewards later reported that the colt was lame in a foreleg.

Should that be case his future could be clouded, this colt has been sold for millions, there is no point in racing on further just to see the colours go round.

The decision has to be a positive one, there is no funny money involved in this deal it’s the dinkum green stuff 

Wilderness No Star At This Stage

Wilderness is in no hurry to clear the debt into a credit entry after an ordinary performance at Bendigo yesterday when he missed a place starting favourite at $2.40.

Plans for the $2.4 million colt have now been scrapped, he will not be going to Sydney with no thought now of taking on the nation’s best two year olds in the Golden Slipper Stakes.

Had he won yesterday’s race in the manner that Eloping did there may have been something positive, but now Sydney is out of the question.

Wilderness is a half brother to Starspangledbanner by Fastnet Rock, hence the price tag, but he has not inherited the speed of his close relation.

However, there is stamina further into the pedigree; it may emerge when the races become longer in distance for his age group.

Valentia Does The Job For Coolmore

Valentia is forging a path in the direction of the Golden Slipper Stakes after having won at his last two outings, the latest on Saturday at Randwick.

He was a $1.35 million buy at last year’s Magic Millions Sale on the Gold Coast by the team at Coolmore .

Coolmore have never been afraid to put their hand up for the right horse, particularly if it is a Fastnet Rock, there is no doubt he is a great sire, now approaching 13 years of age with eight stud seasons behind him, no replacement is on the radar yet.

I Am Invincible Topping The List

The odds weigh heavily in favour of I Am Invinciblebecomig first season leading sire after the success of Fuld’s Bet in the Gimcrack Stakes at Ascot in Perth on Saturday.

He has now sired eight winners from 24 starters, with progeny earnings to date of $472, 594.

I Am Invincible was bred in Victoria, owned and raced here, yet when retired he was snapped up by Yarraman Park as a potential sire at Scone, the horse capitol of Australia.

When Gai Waterhoue declared “he’s a special horse, “ no one would argue with that.

Of course she was referring to Fiorente after his mind boggling performance blasting his opposition into submission winning the Australian Cup.

He is simply an outstanding racehorse, nothing seems to be beyond him at this stage, he just knows how to find the line.

He is a super star, poised to make turnstiles click when he returns to Sydney to continue his autumn campaign.

Is he a good looker? I wouldn’t have thought so, he could pass you in the street without you giving him a second glance, however, when it gets down to the business side of the job that’s a different matter.

Fiorente has a quality that most good horses have, the knack of relaxing, the temperament, that fine line that divides the best from the rest.

e has that rare Hh He is the professional racehorse primed for the occasion; he has an enormous walking stride, each lap of the mounting yard his head gets closer to the ground, reminiscent of Better Loosen up when he raced.

Fiorente winning the Australian Cup

Damian Oliver has the perfect understanding of the horse, he knows where to place him in a race, horse and rider work in unison.

As usual Fiorente settled well back in the field giving the leader, Shamus Award, a fair start, surprisingly Star Rolling never came into the race at any stage, he was disappointing.

Again Fiorente collected all the accolades, he came in to odds on at the close of betting.

The Australian Guineas winner, Shamus Award, led till near the clock tower and did nothing thereafter; obviously the three year olds are well below par.

Damian Oliver and Gai Watefhouse jubiliant after the win