Golden Slipper is a very important moment in time, but often the best horse doesn’t leave the winner.
Chris Roots gives his best runners who never won racing’s premier 2-year-old race.
Tempted 2025 one Group 1 win so far
It has become clear that the best horse in last year’s Golden Slipper ran third. Blake Shinn is still regretting zigging instead of zagging in the straight on the Street Boss filly. She’s arguably the best sprinter in the country after a courageous second to Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising in The Everest and winning the Surround Stakes this autumn. Her resume will continue to expand when she gets her chance.
Anamoe 2021 nine Group 1 wins
Rachel King got off Anamoe after finishing a length from Stay Inside in the Golden Slipper and called him “a superstar in the making”. She was right. It wasn’t his day in the Golden Slipper, where he drew wide and went back before charging to the line for second. He would go on to be the dominant horse in the country for the next couple of years, winning nine Group 1s, including a Cox Plate. He now stands as a stallion and will influence the breed for generations to come.
Mosheen 2011 four Group 1 wins
At the time, it was believed that Sepoy would be the star from 2011 Golden Slipper, but Mosheen has had a more celebrated career on and off the track than him after being runner-up. Although she was in the shadow of Atlantic Jewel, she went on to win a VRC Oaks, Australian Guineas, Randwick Guineas and Vinery Stakes as a three-year-old. She was sold to Japan as a broodmare, where her stock have sold up to $A4.8 million.
More Joyous 2009 eight Group 1 wins
Even as a buck jumping rogue as a two-year-old, More Joyous found her way into the Golden Slipper as the odds-on favourite. But she would only beat one home, not handling the heavy track behind Phelan Ready. John Singleton’s star would deliver on her potential in the next couple of years, winning a Toorak Handicap as a three-year-old before taking out a Doncaster and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Being trained by Gai Waterhouse she had the highest of profiles and delivered performances to match.
Octagonal 1995 ten Group 1 wins
There were two future stars of the breeding barn on show when Flying Spur took inside runs to win the 1995 Golden Slipper. Octagonal flew down the outside to just miss, but his Group 1 would come in the Sires Produce Stakes a couple of weeks later. It was as a three-year-old the Australian racing public fell in love with him. Firstly, winning a Cox Plate, before completing the Triple Crown by taking out the Canterbury Guineas, Rosehill Guineas and a memorable AJC Derby. He added a Tancred Stakes as well. He was the best of a golden generation including Saintly, Nothin’ Leica Dane and Filante. He would famously win an Australian Cup against all odds and his influence continued beyond the track producing Lonhro and several other stars.
