Two Group 1 events and two crucial qualifying races for the world’s richest race for two-year-olds are part of a sensational 10-race card at Royal Randwick this Saturday.
The $1 million Group 1-The Agency Randwick Guineas featuring crack colt Broadsiding and a stellar field in the $750,000 Gr 1-Toyota Forklifts Canterbury Stakes are the centrepiece of a program one week from the official start of the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.
Current TAB Golden Slipper favourite ($3.50) Wodeton runs in the $300,000 Gr 2-Darley Todman Stakes where he is rated a $2.20 favourite as the colt looks to cement a place in the iconic race in a fortnight.
Outstanding galloper Broadsiding (Zac Lloyd) wins first-up at Rosehill Gardens. Image by Bradley Photographers
A field of 12 fillies lines up in the $300,000 Gr 2-Petaluma Reisling Stakes as they too look to rise in the prizemoney Order Of Entry for the TAB Golden Slipper.
The $500,000 Group 2-Schweppes Challenge Stakes, $250,000 Group 3-MostynCopper Aspiration Quality and $250,000 Gr 3-HKJC World Pool Wenona Girl Quality add further firepower to the meeting.
Australian Turf Club Head of Racing and Wagering, Nevesh Ramdhani said nine of the 10 races on Saturday were Group or Listed events.
“The Agency Randwick Guineas as the first leg of the autumn three-year-old triple crown is headlined by one of Australia’s star gallopers in Broadsiding with James McDonald aboard," Mr Ramdhani said.
“The [Group 1] Toyota Forklifts Canterbury Stakes has attracted more of the nation’s best sprinters with the field of 12 containing eight Group 1 winners and collectively earning almost $36 million prizemoney.
“The TAB Golden Slipper field will also take further shape on the eve of next week’s start of the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival at Rosehill Gardens with the big race just a fortnight away from Saturday."
Full fields for Royal Randwick are HERE and full TAB markets for all races HERE.
Broadsiding – already a winner of three Group 1 races – opened the $1.60 TAB favourite for trainer James Cummings and the world’s highest rated jockey in McDonald. The colt is unbeaten at Royal Randwick whilst McDonald has won four from five races on the favourite.
Swiftfalcon for Hawkes Racing and with Tyler Schiller aboard is a well-backed $4.60-$4 second favourite after a strong first-up second to Broadsiding in the Kia Ora Hobartville Stakes.
In the Toyota Forklifts Canterbury Stakes, Magic Time for trainer Grahame Begg and jockey Jordan Childs is the $4.20 TAB favourite, aiming for her third career Group 1 victory.
Chris Waller’s top colt Switzerland is at $5 with McDonald aboard ahead of classy mare Sunshine in Paris ($6) trained by Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald for jockey Chad Schofield.
For all racing, general and ticketing information including booking for the upcoming Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival go to theraces.com.au