The 2008 Golden Slipper Festival closed on Saturday with nearly 28,000 racegoers converging on Rosehill Gardens racecourse to witness Australia’s richest day of racing – AAMI Golden Slipper Day.
The success of the Festival was made even more poignant in the aftermath of last year’s Equine Influenza outbreak, which not only delayed this year’s festival by five weeks but also threatened the livelihood of the entire Sydney Autumn Racing carnival.
In all, Sydney Turf Club’s festival was a glowing success, drawing nearly 50,000 spectators to Canterbury Park and Rosehill Gardens during its two-week duration and employing 1,300 people on Saturday alone.
The inclement weather which had dogged Sydney all week, stayed at bay allowing the nine-race program to unfold without incident or delay.
The racing action lived up to all expectation and despite the heavy track; the day generated the highest Golden Slipper Day betting turnover in the last 20 years. More than $18m was bet through TAB in NSW and a further $12m was turned over by bookmakers on course at Rosehill Gardens.
In the world’s richest race for two-year-olds - the $3.5m AAMI Golden Slipper – race favourite, Sebring, made a late dash for home igniting joyous celebrations from the colt’s owners and trainer Gai Waterhouse.
Moments before the main race, the bustling crowd joined Australian singer Ricki-Lee in a stirring rendition of the National Anthem. By the time the 1,200m sprint was over, the atmosphere hit top gear as winning jockey Glen Boss returned aboard Sebring, punching the air to Robbie Williams’ Let Me Entertain You.
Gai Waterhouse left the course with an enviable quinella of winners. Tuesday Joy, another of her charges scored an earlier victory in the $2.25m weight-for-age race, The BMW.
Spectators waiting for the day’s namesake event also applauded Melbourne superstar Weekend Hussler, which scored an impressive win in the George Ryder Stakes. In doing so, the three-year-old equalled Kingston Town’s record for the most Group 1 victories in a season (six).
Further AAMI highlights included the finals of the $65,000 Myer Fashions on the Field contest, which was adjudicated by a panel of celebrity judges including Myer ambassadors Jennifer Hawkins and Rebecca Twigley.
For the first time, the winner of the women’s heats held on the opening day of the carnival went through to claim the title on AAMI Golden Slipper Day. Clare Rowe from Hurstville was announced the women’s winner ahead of last year’s winner Jacquelyn Wingrove of Garden Suburb (Newcastle) and Abbotsford’s Petra Nolan.
Clare, dressed in a 1940s navy blue dress and matching feathered hat, won a prize package including $4,000 in Myer gift cards, a trip for two to Hayman Island and $4,000 worth of Rutherford jewellery.
In the men’s division, Brian Cunningham from Russell Lea took out first place ahead of the very popular Lloyd Menz from Chifley and Kellyville resident, Brenton Higgins.
In the final of the National Young Designer Awards, Sarah Doblo of Queensland was named official fashion designer of next year’s Festival, after winning the 2008 Awards on Saturday.
Of the 10 talented finalists, Sarah won for her interpretation of quintessential Australian race wear; her garment crossing a 1940s look with contemporary fashion. The event, sponsored by Myer and BMW, will launch Sarah’s career with prizes including a two-week installation of her winning garment in Myer’s Sydney City store and two weeks’ work experience at a Myer fashion show.
AAMI Golden Slipper Day was only the second day the new $30m Grand Pavilion was used to entertain Sydney Turf Club Members and corporate clients.
Approximately 3,000 patrons took in the action from the new grandstand including the 2008 Golden Slipper Festival ambassadors Ali Mutch, Ryan Phelan, Lauryn Eagle, Daniel Mifsud, Samantha Wills and Alex Zabotto-Bentley.
Also in attendance were Myer’s Jennifer Hawkins and Rebecca Twigley; milliner Donny Galella, Underbelly stars Les Hill, Gyton Grantley and Simon Westaway; plus Sea Patrol cast members Matt Holmes and Kristy Lee Allen.