The Group 1 $1 million The Agency Randwick Guineas and Group 1 $600,000 Furphy Canterbury Stakes headline 10 races at Royal Randwick this Saturday just one week from the official start of the $41m Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.
Saturday also sees two pivotal pathway races just 14 days before the 67th running of the world’s richest race for two-year-olds, the Group 1 $5m Longines Golden Slipper on 18 March.
The Group 2 $300,000 UNSW Todman Stakes and Group 2 $300,000 Yarraman Park Reisling Stakes will see two more horses gain automatic into the Longines Golden Slipper.
One of the world’s best jockeys Zac Purton returns to Australia from Hong Kong to ride at Saturday’s meeting, including rides in several of the day’s Group 1 and feature events.
Giga Kick and Craig Williams return to Royal Randwick this Saturday. Image by Bradley Photographers
The return to Sydney of Giga Kick – and the scene of his barnstorming TAB Everest win in spring – sees the flashy chestnut open early favourite in the Group 2 $500,000 Hyland Race Colours Challenge Stakes.
One of New Zealand’s best sprinters in Imperatriz arrives in Sydney for the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes heading into the autumn – and has been heavily backed from $3-$2.30 with TAB for trainer Mark Walker and jockey James McDonald.
The Group 1 $1m The Agency Randwick Guineas is the first leg of the Sydney autumn three-year-old Group 1 Triple Crown, which includes the $600,000 Sky Racing Active Rosehill Guineas and $2m Australian Derby.
Australian Turf Club Executive General Manager Racing and Wagering James Ross said: “Two Group 1 feature races, the top four horses in the Longines Golden Slipper market and the reigning TAB Everest champion Giga Kick are just some of the highlights of a cracking card of racing at Royal Randwick this Saturday."
Full fields for all races are available HERE and full TAB Fixed Odds for all races HERE.
The Godolphin-owned and James Cummings-trained Aft Cabin retains early favourtism ($2.90 TAB) with champion jockey James McDonald aboard in the Gr 1 $1m The Agency Randwick Guineas, in front of Osipenko (Chris Waller and Nash Rawiller) $6-$4.80.
Ruling Longines Golden Slipper favourite Learning To Fly, for trainer Annabel Neasham and jockey Chad Schofield, openED a $1.85-$1.80 TAB favourite in the Gr 2 $300,000 Yarraman Park Reisling Stakes. Estijaab (2015) was the last filly to win the Reisling/Golden Slipper double.
In the Gr 2 $300,000 UNSW Todman Stakes, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Red Resistance ($1.75) and jockey Brett Prebble heads markets ahead of Cylinder at $3 (James Cummings/Tim Clark) and Café Millennium $7 (John O’Shea and Nash Rawiller). These three colts are high in Longines Golden Slipper markets.
Farnan for Gai and Adrian was the previous horse (2020) to complete the Todman/Slipper double.
Giga Kick trained by Clayton Douglas and with jockey Craig Williams is at $2.70 in the Group 2 $500,000 Hyland Race Colours Challenge Stakes, ahead of Remarque ($4.60) Hawkes Racing/Brenton Avdulla.
One of Sydney’s most popular sprinters Eduardo – looking to win a third consecutive Challenge Stakes for trainer Joe Pride and jockey Nash Rawiller – is at $5.
Saturday’s card also features the Group 3 $200,000 Mostyn Copper Aspiration Quality and Group 3 $200,000 Ranvet Wenona Girl Quality. For all racing, ticketing and general information go to - theraces.com.au