![Ha Ha wins the 2001 Golden Slipper [Bradley Photos]](https://betsy.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/1233420.jpg)
It’s the race where champions are born. As the Golden Slipper celebrates its 70th running, Chris Roots looks back at the most dominant, dramatic and unforgettable wins in its history.
Todman 1957
The Melbourne Cup has Archer winning its first editions, which is not possible in a Golden Slipper. But Todman’s victory in the then novelty two-year-old race in 1957, still holds records. His eight-length is the biggest margin in Slipper history, and at $1.12 he was the shortest priced favourite. And lived up to the hype. He was the first of Star Kingdom’s five successive winners in the fledgling race. He would produce two Slippers winners at stud, Eskimo Prince and Sweet Embrace, starting stallion-making tradition for the race.
Vain 1969
It was before I was born, but when discussing Golden Slipper greats, Vain had to be near the top. He came from Victoria and spreadeagled the the best two-year-olds in the land with a show of exhilarating speed. By home turn, he was three lengths in front of Special Girl, who had her heart broken by the colt, but there were big gaps back to third and fourth as well, with the rest of the field conservatively 10 lengths from the leader. He continued a relentless gallop to win by four lengths, but it looked more. He would win 10 of 12 starts and go on to influence the breed for generations to come, including another Slipper winner in Sir Dapper.
Luskin Star 1977
The colt from the coalfields is arguably Australia’s equivalent to Secretariat, the Triple Crown legend from the United States. He won the two-year-old triple crown of the Golden Slipper, Sires Produce Stakes and Champagne Stakes by a combined margin of 16 lengths. Seven of those coming on Slipper day when he camped off the speed, and just as Blazing Saddles was being anointed the winner, Luskin Star went past him in a flash and went away from him. He is probably the most dominant two-year-old in Australian racing history.
Flying Spur 1995
The drama around the Golden Slipper often outdoes the race itself. The day before the Golden Slipper in 1995, Jim Cassidy walked out of the AJC offices in sunglasses with a smoke hanging from his mouth after his appeal against a three-year disqualification arising from the Jockeys Tapes had failed. Glen Boss replaced him on Flying Spur, who had been pulled out of the spelling paddock to run in the Slipper, and got the colt home. It would be a regret for Cassidy for many years to come.
Merlene 1996
There has often been a win-at-all-costs mentality when it comes to the Golden Slipper. Legendary scribe Max Presnell will tell you George Moore on Baguette in 1970, and Ron Quinton on Marauding (1987) took no prisoners on their ways to victory. But Greg Hall’s ride on Merlene was at the top of the list when it comes to interference. Merlene was midfield, rails in run, until the home turn and then was six or seven off the fence, making a winning charge. The problem was the six or seven horses behind her, whose chances were ruined. Hall would win the race but was fined $50,000 and suspended for two months. Kerry Packer and Lloyd Williams were happy to win the Slipper so helped out with the fine.
Belle Du Jour 2000
John Singleton shouted the bar after the 2000 Golden Slipper, if you didn’t know. But only the public bar. The scenes in the mounting yard of Singo, cap on backwards, and former PM Bob Hawke were memorable after the race that had looked lost. Belle Du Jour jumped in the air as the gates opened, losing five lengths. Lenny Beasley weaved a passage through the field and arrived in time to win. It might be the best 70th birthday present ever given as Singleton gifted Hawke a share for his milestone. The pair also won $1 million on the filly after having fifth prizemoney [$100,000] on her at $11 with Col Tidy.
Ha Ha 2001
Gai Waterhouse doesn’t often admit she was wrong, but did when it came to the Golden Slipper. After many years of trying and failing, Waterhouse just went back to Tommy Smith’s methods and they would lead to breaking his record of wins in the Golden Slipper. “It wasn’t until Dad passed away [in 1998] that I realised how right he was and how wrong I was. That’s when I said to Rob, ‘I’m just going to do exactly what Dad said’. And it still works today,” Waterhouse said. Ha Ha was the first of her eight Slipper winners and led home a Tulloch Lodge trifecta. The legendary Randwick stable has 14 Golden Slipper wins when you take Tommy Smith’s six victories into account.
Overreach 2013
Tommy Berry embracing twin Nathan after winning the first of his three Golden Slippers on Overreach, still jars. A year later, Nathan would die from NORSE Syndrome, leaving Tommy without his other half. The pair often acted as one. It was Tommy, who found racing fame faster but Nathan was always part of the story. Before riding favourite Overreach, Tommy walked the track with Nathan, who told him gate one was a blessing. “Nathan convinced me there was nothing wrong with the fence around the corner,” Berry said after his victory. It was only the Golden Slipper win his brother Nathan would see, but he played his role in it.
Farnan 2020
Hugh Bowman’s roar echoed around an empty Rosehill after Farnan’s Golden Slipper without a crowd because of COVID. It was Bowman’s first Golden Slipper and he flipped his goggles to good mate Kris Lees coming back with only trainers and officials on track. “I’m besides myself, I really am,” Bowman said. “There is a lack of atmosphere, but I can assure you it takes nothing away from the win for me. It is a different world we live in. But it doesn’t get better than this.”
