Sports | Thursday 17 March, 2016 1:15 am |

The G1 Golden Slipper Stakes became a lot more difficult for Godolphin to win after a disappointing barrier draw, but trainer John O'Shea remains confident he has the horses to do the job.

Godolphin will have three runners in the race that has become a breed-shaper in the Australian thoroughbred industry and each has a winning chance.

Led by Astern, the Godolphin trio is completed by Telperion and the filly Calliope.

"Astern is everything you would want a Golden Slipper horse to be," O'Shea said.

"Barrier 17 is no help, but he has plenty of tactical speed and there have been plenty of winners from wide gates. He has class, ability and determination, he's a real racehorse."

"Telperion worked very well this morning and will have blinkers added on Saturday."

"Calliope is a very talented filly who's been a star from day one and she is in fantastic condition. She really needed her last run and she's come on very nicely."

As a race that has shaped the thoroughbred breed in Australia, the G1 Golden Slipper Stakes stands supreme.

Since it's first running in 1957, the Golden Slipper has become much more than a 1,200m flutter for inexperienced two-year-olds, producing a cavalcade of great winners who have gone on to become great stallions.

Horses such as Todman, Vain, Luskin Star, Canny Lad, Stratum and Sebring have all won the Slipper and all have gone on to exert massive influence on the Australian thoroughbred industry.

It is fitting, therefore, that Godolphin, Darley, and their founder, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, have become a presence in Australia's - and one of the world's - great races for two-year-olds.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed won the race with Sepoy in 2011 and his colours have also been carried into second place by Earthquake in 2004, Sidestep (2013) and Von Costa De Hero (2008).

While Astern drew the worst gate, Telperion came up with barrier 12 and Calliopedrew 15.

"We can do nothing about the barriers, we just have to accept it and trust we have the horses as fit and ready as we can," O'Shea said.