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Three Group 2 races and a clash of two TAB Everest heavyweights including the world’s best sprinter feature at a super meeting at Royal Randwick this Saturday as Sydney’s spring racing program heats up.

Customers are being urged to book hospitality and tickets at TheRaces.com.au with spaces limited and selling fast as Australian Turf Club continues to strictly follow the NSW Government Public Health Orders.

Just two weeks from the official start of Australian Turf Club’s Everest Carnival, the Group 2 $250,000 Heineken Chelmsford Stakes has attracted a 16-horse field and a wide-open betting market.

Godolphin’s Avilius with jockey Kerrin McEvoy and the Hawkes Racing trained Angel Of Truth ridden by Tommy Berry are the equal $4.60 TAB favourites in the TAB Chelmsford Stakes.

Hawkes Racing has the next in TAB betting Zebrowski ($6.50) ridden by Brenton Avdulla ahead of Master Sea Wolf (Chris Waller and Nash Rawiller) and the reigning The Star Doncaster Mile champion Nettoyer ($11), trained by Wendy Roche and again ridden by James Innes Jr.

The Group 2 $200,000 Drinkwise Tramway Stakes is another strong betting race this Saturday as runners also continue on pathways towards the Everest Carnival, including the Group 1 $1 million TAB Epsom.

Group 1-winner Dreamforce at $4.20 for trainer John Thompson and jockey Nash Rawiller head betting from the Queensland visitor Vanna Girl, a winner of seven of her 10 starts for training team Toby and Trent Edmonds ($5) and jockey Jason Collett. The next seven horses in TAB betting are priced from $8 to $11.

Australian Turf Club Executive General Manager Racing & Wagering, James Ross, said Saturday’s card was another high-quality program towards The TAB Everest Carnival.

“The Heineken Chelmsford Stakes and Drinkwise Tramway Stakes are full of depth on a highly competitive day of racing,” Mr Ross said.

The second leg of the Darley Princess Series – the Group 2 $200,000 Darley Furious Stakes – is headed in TAB markets by the Chris Waller stable’s Hungry Heart ($3) with champion jockey James McDonald.

Dame Giselle ($4.80) trained by Peter and Paul Snowden and ridden by jockey Tommy Berry is looking to take out the second leg after winning the opening race of the series, the Darley Silver Shadow Stakes at Royal Randwick.

And the world’s best sprinter Nature Strip ($1.40) brings star power to the Group 3 $160,000 TAB Concorde Stakes as he begins his campaign towards the $15 million TAB Everest at Royal Randwick on 17 October.

With trainer Chris Waller and jockey James McDonald, Nature Strip takes on another TAB Everest slot runner in Gytrash, for his South Australian trainer Gordon Richards and jockey Jason Collett.

Gytrash is priced at $3.50 in what markets believe will be a two-horse battle over the Royal Randwick 1000m.

“The TAB Concorde is an important guide to The Everest with two of the past three winners taking out this event,” Mr Ross said. “It will also be a great battle of tactics as we see the return of the world’s best sprinter in Nature Strip and a rising star in Gytrash.”

On a track rated a Good 4 on Thursday morning and with favourable weather forecast ahead of Saturday, punters will also be watching the clock to see if the sprinters can break the 1000m track record of 55.78, held by dual Everest champion Redzel.

For all racing, general and ticketing information go to TheRaces.com.au