3 minute read
On the eve of Fireburn’s return, we look at the career records of Slipper-winning fillies.
The return of the Golden Slipper winners at three is always an anticipated affair and this year's winner Fireburn returns in Saturday's $250,000 Group 2 Run To The Rose Stakes (1200m).
Many haven't covered themselves in glory in recent years with the past four winners of Australia's greatest juvenile race failing to win after their Slipper success, but there have also been quite a few success stories.
Fireburn became the 13th filly to win the Slipper since 2000 when she overcame severe midrace interference to win the $5 million Group 1 at Rosehill in March and below is a list of how the other Slipper-winning fillies have fared after turning three.
2000 – BELLE DU JOUR: Raced until a few weeks before her sixth birthday, winning five races after turning three, the best of which was the 2003 G1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m).
2001 – HA HA: Dominated the Princess Series in Sydney in the spring of her 3YO season, wining the G2 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m), G2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) and Flight Stakes (1600m) at Group 1 level. Then went to the Gold Coast and won the Magic Millions 3YO Trophy and returned to Sydney to upstage the older horses in the G2 Apollo Stakes (1400m).
2002 – CALAWAY GAL: Had 17 starts as a three and four-year-old but only placed once, when third in the G2 Silver Shadows Stakes.
2003 – POLAR SUCCESS: Raced 10 times at three and four for just two placings; a second placing in a 3YO Handicap and another second in a Fillies & Mares' Handicap.
2006 – MISS FINLAND: The banner filly for those who don't subscribe to the 'Slipper curse' theory, winning eight races after turning three including four at Group 1 level; VRC Oaks (2500m), Australian Guineas (1600m), Thousand Guineas (1600m) and Storm Queen Stakes (2000m). Also beat the older horses at WFA in the 2007 Memsie Stakes (1400m), when it carried G2 status.
2007 – FORENSICS: Another dual Group 1 winner after turning three, winning the Queen Of The Turf (1550m) as an autumn 3YO before claiming the Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) as a spring 4YO. Also won her generation's Golden Rose (1400m), when it was still a Group 2 race and was run in autumn due to Equine Influenza, and remains the only Golden Slipper winner to also win a Golden Rose.
2010 – CRYSTAL LILY: Didn't win after the Slipper but can hardly be considered a failure having finished second in five of eight starts including Group 1 seconds to Black Caviar in a Newmarket Handicap (1200m) and William Reid Stakes (1200m) and a second in the G1 The Goodwood (1200m).
2013 – OVERREACH: Had just one start after turning three, a third placing in the G2 Schillaci Stakes (1000m) won by Rubick.
2014 – MOSSFUN: Was held back from the spring as a 3YO but raced four times in autumn, the best result a third placing in the G3 Birthday Card Stakes (1200m).
2017 – SHE WILL REIGN: The most recent Slipper champion to win again post-Slipper, producing a stunning finish to win the G1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at her first start as a 3YO while she also won the Inglis 3YO Sprint.
2018 – ESTIJAAB: Like another Hawkes-trained Slipper-winning filly in Mossfun, didn't race before Christmas in her 3YO season and three runs in the second half of the season produced just one placing, a second in the Inglis Sprint.
2019 – KIAMICHI: Godolphin struck while the iron was hot with the daughter of Sidestep, who had a busy 2YO season and raced six times as a 3YO, the best result being a third placing in the G2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m).
