Golden Slipper: Overreach wins world's richest 2-year-old race at Rosehill Gardens

The filly Overreach confirmed her status as Australia’s top 2-year-old with her victory in Saturday’s $3.640 million Golden Slipper Stakes, the world’s richest race for 2-year-olds, at Rosehill Gardens racecourse.

Ridden by Tommy Berry, 21, Overreach, the 9-5 favorite in a field of 16, was well-placed throughout the race over about six furlongs, took the lead with a furlong remaining and won by 1 3/4 lengths over 10-1 Sidestep.

Overreach, by Exceed and Excel and trained by Gai Waterhouse, has won 3 of 4 starts. She was foaled in August, 2010, and is nearing the end of her 2-year-old season in the Southern Hemisphere.

There were five Group 1 races at Rosehill Gardens, a suburban Sydney course, on Saturday.

Fiveandahalfstar won the $2.360 million BMW Cup over 1 1/2 miles as the 17-5 favorite, finishing a head in front of Silent Achiever in the race for 3-year-olds and older. Fiveandahalfstar, a 3-year-old in the Southern Hemisphere, will make a quick turnaround for the Group 1 Australian Derby at Randwick next Saturday.

Waterhouse won the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes over 7 1/2 furlongs with Pierro, the winner of the 2012 Golden Slipper. Pierro was the 7-20 favorite and won by a neck over 90-1 King Mufhasa.

Appearance, a 5-year-old mare, won her second consecutive Group 1 in the Queen of the Turf Stakes over 7 1/2 furlongs. Norzita, by Thorn Park, won the biggest race of her career in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes for 3-year-old fillies over 1 1/4 miles.