The Forecast: Slippers and Speedsters

If winning the Melbourne Cup changes your life, then winning the Golden Slipper can change your postcode – welcome to Australian racing’s version of a Powerball jackpot.

They might be two years old, but the runners in Saturday’s $5 million Golden Slipper are some of the most valuable racehorses in Australia – forget the Ballon d’Or, we are talking platinum plums here.

STORM BOY’S  owners already made serious bank on their $460,000 yearling outlay when the colt snared the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic in January, and then international mega-stud Coolmore came calling.

The Irish juggernaut put up a deal loaded with performance-based kickers that could see Storm Boy worth over $50 million come the end of the autumn, making him a primo Australian replacement for his megastar sire Justify (a lazy USD$75 mill Coolmore buy in 2018).

STORM BOY  an Irish Juggernaut.

Someone ring Albo, we’ve got a new economic stimulus plan – give Gai a tonne of cash, let her loose at the sales, then sit back and watch the cash roll in.

The fun doesn’t end there for Coolmore. If the second favourite SWITZERLAND  lobs, that colt’s golden balls are worth something in the vicinity of $20million and a stud career guaranteed.

It doesn’t end with the boys though! If the Slipper fits a filly, you’re talking upwards of $3 million in the auction ring at Inglis or Magic Millions as a broodmare at the end of their career. Cue HAYASUGI,  LADY OF CAMELOT,  MANAAL.

Speaking of broodmares, Kia Ora Galaxy contender PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE  didn’t exactly fancy the idea of becoming a mum when she was sent to stud last season.

A hot date was set with Australia’s leading sire I Am Invincible, but old love rejected the rose and sent Vinnie packing with his tail between his legs; now she finds herself back at Rosehill lining up in a Group 1.

I’m not saying she’s a bad girl, but after hosting her during the early stages of her comeback on the farm at Leneva Park, let’s just say the mare knows what she wants. She’s built for competition, not for cuddling.

Prayers required for BUENOS NOCHES,  AFT CABIN  or  OZZMOSIS  if they try any funny business in the mounting yard. No means no boys.

BEST: Moonee Valley R10 No. 2 Grand Impact

BEST EACH-WAY: Rosehill R10 No. 4 C’Est Magique

BEST ROUGHIE: Rosehill R6 No. 8 Cap Ferrat