Danny O’Brien is aiming for membership in a prestigious group when Closer To Free contests this Saturday’s Golden Slipper.
A triumph in the $5 million Group 1 event at Rosehill would allow the Melbourne-based trainer to accomplish the Grand Slam of Australian racing.
Chris Waller stands as the sole trainer currently based in Australia to have claimed the Golden Slipper, Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate.
David Hayes, the only other active trainer to have managed this achievement, is presently located in Hong Kong.
Lee Freedman remains the sole other living individual to secure all four victories, alongside Bart Cummings, Tommy Smith, Colin Hayes, Jack Denham and Maurice McCarten.
All eight trainers who have pulled off this accomplishment belong to the Australian Racing Hall of Fame, and O’Brien is thrilled to pursue his strongest opportunity yet at capturing the globe’s most lucrative juvenile contest.
“You don’t get many opportunities in a Slipper, because you’ve got to have the right horse,” O’Brien said.
“We haven’t had that many of them, so it’d be fantastic if we could tick that last box.”
O’Brien has lacked a Golden Slipper participant since finishing the Melbourne portion of the Grand Slam courtesy of Vow And Declare’s 2019 Melbourne Cup success.
His Caulfield Cup success arrived via Master O’Reilly in 2007, with the 2013 Cox Plate taken by Shamus Award.
In reality, O’Brien’s sole participation in a Golden Slipper occurred in 2011, when Running Tall finished 11th at $41 odds in the Sepoy victory.
For much of this season’s initial phase, O’Brien likely anticipated remaining on the sidelines for 2026, as Closer To Free did not arrive at his stable until early February.
The Street Boss colt, purchased for $60,000 at last year’s Inglis Classic Sale, launched his racing career under Wangaratta handler Adrian Corboy before moving to O’Brien after Sean Buckley acquired him post an eye-catching Caulfield trial victory on January 29.
He wasn’t listed among initial entries for the Golden Slipper, but gained a berth following connections’ payment of a $150,000 late nomination fee on Monday.
Closer To Free joined two other late supplements for the race: Pembrey, winner of last Saturday’s Magic Night Stakes, and Black Opal victor Music Time.
Closer To Free qualified for the Slipper with a close second in the Group 1 Blue Diamond, building on his debut win in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude.
The colt has been idle since the Blue Diamond on February 21, yet has resided in Sydney since the start of this month and dominated a 1030m trial at Rosehill on March 10.
Jamie Melham, set to partner Closer To Free on Saturday, piloted him in that trial, and O’Brien has been pleased with the colt’s adjustment to Sydney conditions.
“He travelled up well, he’s settled well, he trialled well and he’s a very straight-forward colt,” he said.
“Nothing seems to bother him. Everything he does, he just takes in his stride. He’s got a great attitude.
“Jamie Melham jumped on him for the first time the other morning and she was very impressed with him.
“We just need, hopefully, a nice enough barrier and we’ll see what the weather does, but there’s not too many boxes left to tick with him. He’s ready to go.”
The Golden Slipper lineup gets confirmed at Tuesday’s barrier draw, where Closer To Free sits at $11 in all-in markets.
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