AAMI Golden Slipper Day – Saturday, 19 April

The best in the horseracing business are making their way to Sydney for Saturday’s AAMI Golden Slipper Day, the richest day of racing on the Australian calendar.

The crescendo of the two-week long Golden Slipper Festival, AAMI Golden Slipper Day promises a stunning backdrop of colour, glamour and tradition as the best horses in Australia compete for more than $7 million in prize money.

The eight-race program, which features five Group 1 events, is expected to draw up to 30,000 spectators to Rosehill Gardens.

The signature event is the AAMI Golden Slipper, a 1200m sprint for the brightest two-year-old thoroughbreds, is worth $3.5m alone, making it the richest race for juveniles in the world.

Leading contenders have come from afar to vie for the spoils of Golden Slipper Day including:

• Champion jockey Glen Boss, who received a late call-up from Hong Kong and will ride the Gai Waterhouse trained Sebring in the AAMI Golden Slipper.

• Victorian trainer David Hayes with four starters in the AAMI Golden Slipper and fellow trainer Ross McDonald whose three-year-old charge Weekend Hussler is the early favourite in the George Ryder Stakes.

• Leading the charge for Golden Slipper glory is South Australian trio; trainer Leon MacDonald, jockey Claire Lindop and Magic Millions winner Augusta Proud.

The race program also features the $2.25 million running of The BMW, the country’s sole Group 1 weight-for-age race over 2400m. The races’ honour roll reads like a who’s who of racing legendary - Kingston Town, Bonecrusher, Octagonal, Might and Power and Makybe Diva.

The entertainment on AAMI Golden Slipper Day doesn’t stop at the racing. Be there to see performances by Ricki-Lee or purchase tickets to the day’s social hub, The Entertainment Quarter, to be rocked by the sounds of popular Irish DJs, The Potbelleez.

Sydney Turf Club’s official fashion partner, Myer has confirmed the attendance of their ambassador Jennifer Hawkins, who will escort the diamond encrusted AAMI Golden Slipper trophy into the parade ring in the lead-up to the main event at 3.35pm.

The day also hosts the women’s finals and men’s heats & finals of the coveted Myer Fashions on the Field competition. Entrants will compete for a share of a $45,000 prize pool comprising holidays to Hayman Island, Rutherford jewellery and Myer gift cards.

Ten aspiring young designers will contest the final of the National Young Designer Awards for a chance to win career-launching opportunities including a Myer in-store installation of their garment and two weeks’ work experience at a fashion show.

The 2008 Golden Slipper Festival official charity partner, The Spastic Centre, will have volunteers on course to sell commemorative Golden Slipper pins. The pins, which retail for $5 also carry a competition entry for a chance to win a trip for two people to the 2008 Melbourne Cup.

Gates open at 9.00am, with the first race at 11.25am.

For everything you need to know about the 2008 Golden Slipper Festival, visit http://www.theslipper.com.au.