The Golden Slipper is the world's richest two-year-old horse race, and features a capacity field of 16 runners going at lightning speed around Sydney's tight Rosehill circuit chasing $3.5 million in prizemoney.
With major races which have a long history, profiling is a tool which can help find us a winner.
Winners of big races can fit a certain profile, and it pays to pay attention to what trends point to previous winners.
Sportal found last year's Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist in this manner.
So let's see if we can zero in on the winner of Saturday's Slipper, using data from the past 20 Slipper winners.
Good, recent form is critical
You need to be in form to win the Golden Slipper, and preferably have finished first or second at your previous start.
Twelve of the past 20 winners won their last start. Another four finished second. None finished further back than fourth.
So a red line through those well beaten at their previous start, and pay particular attention to those who won last start or finished second.
Last start winners: 1 Vancouver, 4 Haptic, 5 Exosphere, 6 Ready For Victory, 8 English, 10 Speak Fondly, 12 Haybah
Last start 2nd place: 3 Furnaces, 9 Reemah, 13 Ottoman, 15 Single Gaze
The market usually gets it right, but not the favourite
Only three favourites in the past 20 years have won, so be wary of whatever punters send out as the clear elect.
But showing the market does have a good record of putting the best chances at the top end, only two horses at odds greater than $13 have won since 1995.
So watch the betting, particularly those who are in the market up to $13. History shows this is where you should concentrate your search for winners.
Current favourite (odds courtesy Sportsbet): 1 Vancouver $3.00
Those currently under $13 with Sportsbet: 5 Exosphere $4.00, 6 Ready For Victory $11, 2 Headwater $12
Barriers are critical, and wide barriers are poison
Only two horses in the past 20 years have won the Golden Slipper from outside barrier 11.
So history tells us those drawn wider than 11 (remember to make sure of the barrier horses start from after scratchings on Saturday morning), are at a clear disadvantage in a helter-skelter race around Rosehill.
Strangely, two barriers have unusually good records at producing winners.
Seven of the past 20 winners have come from barrier one. Four others have won from barrier 11. That's more than half the past 20 winners from those two barriers. Something to bear in mind.
Those drawn from barriers 1 to 11 in order (before scratchings): Furnaces, Haybah, Haptic, Racy, Lake Geneva, English, Serenade, Ottoman, Ready For Victory, Exosphere, Headwater.
If scratchings, Speak Fondly, Odyssey Moon and Fireworks could shift into closer barriers. We'll only know this after scratchings on the morning of the race.
Barrier 1: Furnaces
Barrier 11: Watch for scratchings Saturday morning
Horses with strong Golden Slipper-winning profiles
5 Exosphere - last start winner, under $13 in betting, drawn inside barrier 11
6 Ready For Victory - last start winner, under $13 in betting, drawn inside barrier 11