THE A$2 million Golden Slipper is unique to Australia, not only because it is the world's richest race for two-year-olds, but also because of its emphasis and hype.
Nowhere else in the world is a juvenile race held in such high esteem.
If the winner happens to be a colt, then the studs line up to sign on the youngster as a future stallion.
For a filly, it will guarantee her sons and daughters and their sons and daughters a value that will restrict them to only the wealthiest of owners.
The Slipper, run on the tight Rosehill track, has grown amazingly in stature.
Today's race sees owners and trainers at both ends of the scale.
The 11-4 favourite is Bint Marscay, a chestnut filly by Marscay, trained by the Group One specialist Lee Freedman and owned by Sheik Rashid Bin Rashid Al Nayhar - the new sheik on the Australian racing scene.
