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Two key pathway races to the $3.5 million Longines Golden Slipper and a high-class field of sprinters in the Group 2 $200,000 Iron Jack Expressway Stakes feature on a nine-race card at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday.

With just seven weeks until the world’s richest race for two year olds, Saturday’s Group 3 $160,000 Widden Stakes for the fillies and Group 3 $160,000 Canonbury Stakes for the colts and geldings will further shape the Longines Golden Slipper order of entry.

Saturday also sees the return of Group 1 De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose champion Ole Kirk for Hawkes Racing in the Iron Jack Expressway Stakes as the countdown continues to Sydney’s spectacular Autumn Carnival.

General Admission customers, owners and Australian Turf Club Members are able to pre-register and purchase tickets and hospitality for this Saturday and the upcoming Autumn Carnival at theraces.com.au.

Trainer Michael Hawkes (Pic: Steve Hart)

All patrons will continue to be required to follow COVID-Safe protocols as directed by Australian Turf Club staff.

Australian Turf Club Executive General Manager Racing and Wagering James Ross said Saturday’s two year old features continued the build-up to Sydney’s iconic Longines Golden Slipper to be run at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday 20 March.

“The Canonbury and Widden Stakes both have a strong history of producing Golden Slipper winners along with horses who also go on to be highly competitive in the Slipper,’’ Mr Ross said.

“Colts such as Sebring and Vancouver and fillies Mossfun and Overreach all won the Canonbury or Widden before claiming the world’s richest race for two year olds.

“The return on Saturday of one of Australia’s best three year old colts Ole Kirk, winner of the De Bortoli Golden Rose, will be another highlight for punters in an interesting renewal of the Iron Jack Expressway Stakes.”

Longines Golden Slipper winning trainers Peter and Paul Snowden have the early TAB favourite in the Canonbury Stakes, Construct ($3.20) for jockey Jason Collett.

Sydney’s ten-time champion trainer Chris Waller – aiming to win his first Longines Golden Slipper – has the second TAB favourite Home Affairs ($3.40) for jockey James McDonald, along with third favorite Giannis ($6 TAB), to be ridden by Sam Clipperton.

In the Widden Stakes, Mallory ($2.40 TAB) for trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou and jockey Jason Collett heads early markets.

Reigning Longines Golden Slipper winning trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott have the second TAB favourite Total Babe ($3.70) ridden by Tim Clark along with Excela Bella ($12 TAB) for jockey Brenton Avdulla.

Gai Waterhouse already holds the all-time training record in the Longines Golden Slipper with seven victories.

The James Cummings trained Godolphin mare Savatiano ($3.50 TAB) for champion jockey Hugh Bowman heads betting in the Iron Jack Expressway Stakes.

The winner of more than $2 million in prizemoney, Savatiano is looking to further add to her imposing first-up record of five wins from just eight attempts.

Ole Kirk ($3.70 TAB and jockey Tommy Berry) and Standout ($6 TAB trainers Ryan/Alexiou and jockey Kerrin McEvoy are next in the market.

The Rosehill Gardens track was rated a Soft 5 on Thursday with a full video track report with Racecourse Manager Shaun Patterson available here.