Storm Boy and Switzerland will clash in most anticipated Golden Slipper in 50 years, according to Bruce McAvaney

The clash of unbeaten colts Storm Boy and Switzerland has brought back memories of the 1969 Golden Slipper classic for legendary sports presenter Bruce McAvaney.

Storm Boy and Switzerland will clash in the most anticipated Golden Slipper showdown in 50 years Golden Slipper

Storm Boy and Switzerland tightened their grip on favouritism for the $5m Golden Slipper after drawing perfectly for the world’s richest two-year-old race at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

The all-important barrier draw on Tuesday morning was kind to the two superstar colts with Storm Boy to start from gate two and Switzerland out of seven.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Storm Boy firmed from $2.30 to $2.10 favouritism with Switzerland next at $4.50 then it is a $11 the field with TAB.

In a season that has produced a vintage crop of two-year-olds, Storm Boy and Switzerland seem to tower over their rivals.

Both colts boast big pedigrees and high-profile owners, and their trainers and jockeys are world class.

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Bruce McAvaney, the voice of Australian sport and presenter of Channel 7’s Golden Slipper coverage on Saturday, said the clash between Coolmore’s unbeaten colts Storm Boy and Switzerland has the same feel to it as the 1969 showdown between Victoria’s freakish colt Vain and NSW’s brilliant filly Special Girl.

“It was an extraordinary build-up to the 1969 Golden Slipper with the remarkable coming together of two unbeaten two-year-olds, Vain and Special Girl,’’ McAvaney said.

Vain won a memorable Golden Slipper in 1969.

“There was not another horse in the race under 10/1 in Vain-Special Girl’s year when Vain scored a famous win and it is very similar this year with Storm Boy and Switzerland. It is so rare to have two unbeaten colts meeting in the Golden Slipper.

“In all the time I have been following racing I think this Saturday’s Golden Slipper has the potential to be, in terms of the build-and the occasion, as close to 1969 as we have seen.’’

This is a classic showdown between Storm Boy and Switzerland, two colts with genuine star power but the clashes within the clash is making this Golden Slipper the most anticipated in years.

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THE TRAINERS

Gai Waterhouse has prepared a record seven Golden Slipper winners and she has a powerful team of six starters plus the emergency including favourite Storm Boy for her attempt at an eighth win in the world’s richest juvenile race.

Waterhouse has been in a training partnership with Adrian Bott since 2016 – they won the 2020 Golden Slipper together with Farnan – and are also saddling up Straight Charge, Shangri La Express, Prost, Fully Lit, Lady Of Camelot and the emergency, Espionage.

But their main rival is Chris Waller, trainer of Switzerland. He’s chasing a second successive Golden Slipper after his success with Shinzo for Coolmore last year.

“I feel because they are both Coolmore horses in essence, this is quite personal for Gai and Chris,’’ McAvaney said.

“If either was to win, it would give them one of their biggest thrills of their training careers.

“For Gai, it would be a record eighth Golden Slipper and it would be great for Adrian, too.

“If Switzerland wins, it means Chris has trained four Group 1 two-year-old winners in a row in Sydney after Shinzo and Militarize (Inglis Sires, Champagne Stakes) last year.’’

THE JOCKEYS

English superstar Ryan Moore is the reigning Longines World’s Best Jockey, a title he wrested from 2022 winner, James McDonald.

The two champion riders clash in the Golden Slipper with Moore taking over on Storm Boy and McDonald staying with Switzerland.

“There’s arguably the No.1 jockey in the world (Moore) against, I think, the best jockey we have seen in Australia for possibly ever,’’ McAvaney said.

“I believe James has the potential to become the all-time greatest jockey in this country.

“James makes Switzerland shorter in the market and I would have him a ‘nose’ in front of Ryan riding in this country.’’

Chris Waller hugging owner Debbie Kepitis after Shinzo won last year’s Golden Slipper. Picture: Bradley Photos

THE STUDS

The two superpowers of Australian breeding, Coolmore Stud and Arrowfield Stud, and their stallions, Justify and Snitzel, square off in the Slipper showdown.

Coolmore’s stallion Justify, the unbeaten American triple crown winner, is becoming a worldwide phenomenon with only a couple of racing crops.

“For (Coolmore Australia supremo) Tom Magnier, if Justify can get a Golden Slipper winner with Storm Boy in his second crop it would be absolutely everything they would have dreamed of,’’ McAvaney said.

Arrrowfield’s Snitzel, the sire of Switzerland, already has two Golden Slipper winners with Shinzo (2023) and Estijaab (2018).

“Is Snitzel on the brink of consecutive Golden Slipper winners and a third Golden Slipper overall which puts him behind only Danehill and Star Kingdom?’’ McAvaney asked. “For John Messara at Arrowfield, this is pretty big.’’

THE COLTS

Storm Boy is rated as potentially the best two-year-old since Pierro, the 2012 Golden Slipper and triple crown winner.

The wonder colt has won his four races easily including the Magic Millions and has been the long-time Golden Slipper favourite.

“If Storm Boy were to win the Slipper then he puts himself in the frame for Horse of the Year honours,’’ McAvaney said.

“He would need to win the other two legs of the triple crown (ATC Sires’, Champagne Stakes) and if he does he could join Bounding Away (1986) as the only two-year-olds to win Horse of the Year.

“Storm Boy has this powerful presence the way he races – chest down, ears back, and he gives the impression he is so determined never to be passed.’’

James McDonald rode Storm Boy to victory in the Skyline Stakes last start but Ryan Moore will take over the ride in the Golden Slipper. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Switzerland is a different style of colt but similarly impressive. He races off the speed by has a strong finishing sprint.

“What I love about Switzerland him is the ease of the way he goes about his work,’’ McAvaney said.

“He goes through his gears so smoothly and is a great hunter.

“If you think about it, he has flattened the Waterhouse-Bott army. He has beaten Shangri La Express twice, he has beaten Straight Charge and Espionage.

“He has got rid of all their troops bar one and there’s the general left – Storm Boy.’’

THE FINISH

Storm Boy has led in all his races and barrier trials so far and nothing has got near him at the finish.

If he doesn’t lead Saturday’s Golden Slipper field, he will be right on the speed and almost certainly will be in front of Switzerland on the home turn which sets up a potentially memorable finish.

“For raw excitement nothing matches the Golden Slipper except The Everest,’’ McAvaney said.

“There is not a better grand final in Australian racing than the Golden Slipper.

“It defines careers. It is not only a sire-making race but also a race that makes the sire of the winner. The ripple effect is quite enormous.

“We are on the cusp here of something quite special on Saturday. This could be as good as we have ever seen from a Golden Slipper point of view since Vain and Special Girl all those years ago.

“I envisage the possible scenario of Ryan Moore on Storm Boy being a length and a half in front at the furlong (200m) and James McDonald on Switzerland coming out of the pack.

“Do you know what? That last furlong will be what we all dream about in racing!”

Originally published as Storm Boy and Switzerland will clash in most anticipated Golden Slipper in 50 years, according to Bruce McAvaney