More than 300 horses remain in contention for a Golden Slipper start, 34 of them from the Hawkes Racing stable.

Second acceptances for the world’s richest two-year-old race closed this week with 304 youngsters maintaining their place, a significant increase on the 170 still alive at the corresponding stage last year.

Hawkes Racing has the biggest representation ahead of Godolphin with 31 and last year’s Golden Slipper-winning trainer Gai Waterhouse with 24.

Exceed And Excel, the sire of 2013 winner Overreach, has 20 of his progeny in the running for a start.

Magic Millions winner Capitalist is a $3.50 favourite for the March 19 race, ahead of Godolphin colt Astern.

Capitalists’s Snowden Racing stablemate Defcon, who shares the third line of Slipper betting at $15, will make his debut in the Canonbury Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.

Vancouver won the Canonbury last year on his way to a Golden Slipper victory.

Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au