Pierro Plate in 2026 could yield another Golden Slipper star

Five weeks remain until the Golden Slipper, but among the two-year-olds, none has claimed the mantle of undisputed favourite for the highlight race.

Warwoven, sharing favouritism, stays sidelined after lameness diagnosis by Queensland Racing officials on the brink of the Magic Millions Classic at Gold Coast last month; Incognito, Breeders’ Plate conqueror, faltered on return due to palate displacement; Hidrix, the victor there, must match his first-up brilliance to advance his Slipper bid.

Trainer Michael Freedman, fresh off Marhoona’s Golden Slipper win last year, admits no obvious standout exists this season, yet holds hopes for Outspan’s rise after contesting Saturday’s Pierro Plate (1100m) in Randwick.

“There is no clear, dominant pick for the Slipper at this stage. It’s wide open, a little bit like last year,” Freedman said.

“He’s obviously going to have to put his hand up, but I’m happy with how he’s going.”

Twelve youngsters will assemble for the Pierro Plate, only three with pre-Christmas outings.

This trend is gaining prevalence, paralleled in the Golden Slipper’s legacy of victors.

Of the prior ten winners, six raced before Christmas, yet the last five show three postponing debuts to the New Year.

Freedman handled two: Marhoona plus Stay Inside in 2021.

“I think that’s going to be more the norm going forward,” Freedman said.

“Trainers are holding their horses back a bit longer. My two Slipper winners, neither of them started until the New Year, and I think that will become more common than not.”

In January, Outspan posted a rallying fifth to Knightsbridge across 1000m at Randwick, then notched his initial victory at Rosehill two weeks later.

Outspan follows a regimen akin to Stay Inside, who debuted winning in January, progressed through the Pierro Plate to Slipper victory. Punters should review the racing betting markets for the Pierro Plate.

The post Will Pierro Plate serve up another Golden Slipper contender? first appeared on Just Horse Racing.