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Two Group 1 races will be the highlight of Girvan Waugh Randwick Guineas Day at Royal Randwick this Saturday, 4 March.

The feature race of the day, the Group 1 $1m Girvan Waugh Randwick Guineas will see 14 runners vying for the first leg of the three-year-old Triple Crown.

Chris Waller will be looking to defend his title when $4.50 TAB Fixed Odds favourite Comin’ Through faces the starter. Hong Kong-based jockey Joao Moreira will make the trip to Sydney to partner with the Fastnet Rock colt.

Zac Purton will also travel from Hong Kong to feature in the Australian Turf Club’s feature when he partners with Malaise ($15.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

The anticipated wet conditions should suit the Helmet colt, with his only win from five career runs being on a Heavy track.

The other Group 1 highlight of the day is the $500,000 Canterbury BMW Stakes. Chautauqua, for Hawkes Racing, is the early favourite at $2.90 TAB Fixed Odds. The impressive gelding boasts a record of 12 wins from 25 starts and will be looking to improve that this Saturday.

Last start winner Music Magnate ($3.80 TAB Fixed Odds), trained by Bjorn Baker will be the hardest the beat and has completed a barrier trial on 15 February in preparation for this test.

Australian Turf Club Executive General Manager Racing Services & Membership, James Heddo, said that racing at Royal Randwick on Saturday presents racing enthusiasts with a snapshot of what the Club has coming up this autumn.

“The quality Group 1 racing this weekend reflects the calibre that we can expect to see during the six-week Sydney Carnival, which kicks off next Saturday at Rosehill Gardens,’’ Mr Heddo said.

“It is a testament to the class of Sydney racing that internationally located jockeys are travelling to our tracks to contest the Australian Turf Club’s feature races.”

The build-up to the world’s richest two-year-old race continues on Saturday with the running of the Group 2 Affinity Shipping Reisling Stakes (fillies) and the Group 2 UNSW Todman Stakes (colts and geldings).

Both of these races each hold a $300,000 purse but more importantly, the winner gains a free passage to the Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper on 18 March.

Gary Portelli’s She Will Reign ($1.45 TraB Fixed Odds) has opened as the short priced favourite in the Affinity Shipping Reisling Stakes. The Manhattan Rain filly is undefeated in her three career starts and is the early $2.80 TAB Fixed Odds favourite in the Longines Golden Slipper market.

Similarly, Houtzen ($4.20 TAB Fixed Odds), trained by Toby Edmonds remains undefeated after three starts including a good win in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic.

In the UNSW Todman Stakes, punters have favoured Menari ($2.80 TAB Fixed Odds) following his second place run in the Group 3 Canonbury Stakes at Rosehill Gardens on 28 January. Despite being badly held up for a run, the Gerald Ryan-trained colt finished strongly to beat all but Group 1 Blue Diamond runner up Pariah.

John O’Shea-trained Trekking ($7.00 TAB Fixed Odds) has opened on the second line of betting and will be fresh following an 11 week spell. The juvenile was last seen on the track in race conditions in his maiden start where he went on for a good 1.5 length win.

Free car parking is available at the racecourse and for those with pre-purchased tickets, free buses run between Eddy Avenue at Central Station and Royal Randwick racecourse.

Adult general admission tickets are available for $15.00 at ticketek.com.au. Gates Open at 11.00am with the first race at 12.25pm.

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