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A cavalcade of stars clash at Royal Randwick on Saturday for four Group races on a huge ten-race card ahead of the official start to the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival in coming weeks.

The first Saturday of spring arrives just two weeks before the formal start of the global city’s world-class Spring Racing Carnival on 18 September.

The world’s best sprinter and ruling The TAB Everest favourite Nature Strip (Group 3 TAB Concorde Stakes), one of Australia’s most exciting gallopers in Zaaki (Group 2 Fujitsu Tramway Stakes) and the cream of the country’s three old fillies (Group 2 Darley Furious Stakes) are some of Saturday’s highlights.

These races continue pathways to a number of Spring features, including several key sprints before the TAB Everest, the $1.5 million Group 1 TAB Epsom and the continuing Darley Princess Series for fillies headed towards the Group 1 Darley Flight Stakes.

The Group 2 $250,000 Heineken Chelmsford Stakes on Saturday features a field of 14 runners and a wide-open betting race, with runners also heading to races such as the TAB Epsom, $1 million Group 2 Hill Stakes and Group 1 $750,000 Heineken Metropolitan.

Australian Turf Club this Saturday also honours one of its most beloved colleagues with the naming of race two – the Vale Nini Vascotto – run in honour of the passing last week of the Club’s social media manager at age 44.

Australian Turf Club Chief Executive, Jamie Barkley said the Club was also planning with Nini’s family a permanent memorial at Royal Randwick: “Nini was an inspiration to many people in racing here at home and across the world and we continue to pay tribute to her life and remember her long and courageous battle," Mr Barkley said.

Full fields for Saturday’s Royal Randwick meeting can be found here and full TAB Markets for all Saturday races here.

The Group 2 $250,000 Heineken Chelmsford Stakes sees Godolphin’s James Cummings-trained and reigning Doncaster Mile champion Cascadian open a $4.40 TAB favourite with Hugh Bowman aboard.

Another Group 1 winner in Think It Over for trainer Kerry Parker and jockey Nash Rawiller is at $4.60 ahead of the Bjorn Baker trained She’s Ideel for Jason Collett at $5. Dual Group 1 winner Montefilia is at $8 for trainer David Payne and jockey Josh Parr.

Zaaki for trainer Annabel Neasham and jockey James McDonald opens the final field $2.60 TAB favourite in the Group 2 $200,000 Fujitsu General Tramway Stakes. Dreamforce – looking to create history as the only horse with a third consecutive Tramway Stakes victory – is at $6.50 for trainer John Thompson and rider Nash Rawiller.

The world’s highest-rated sprinter Nature Strip is an opening $1.45 TAB favourite in the Group 3 $160,000 TAB Concorde Stakes as trainer Chris Waller and jockey James McDonald launch the star sprinter’s Everest campaign.

Two other TAB Everest potential slot runners in Trekking (James Cummings and Kerrin McEvoy) and Wild Ruler (trainers Peter and Paul Snowden) are joint $6 TAB second favourites.

A classy field of 15 fillies contest the second leg of the Darley Princess Series in the Group 2 $200,000 Darley Furious Stakes. In another strong betting race, the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Najmaty opens at $4.60 ahead of two other $5 chances – Four Moves Ahead (John Sargeant and Nash Rawiller) and She’s All Class (Waller and McDonald).

Swift Witness who won the first leg of the series is at $7.50 for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and top jockey Tim Clark. Swift Witness (7 points) leads the series from Latino Blend (3 points) and Four Moves Ahead (1 point).

Saturday’s Royal Randwick meeting will be covered live through SKY Thoroughbred Central, SKY Racing 1 and free to air on Channel 7, or on TAB and SKY Racing Active accounts. View a guide on how to celebrate Chelmsford Stakes Day from home here.

For all racing, general and ticketing information for the Australian Turf Club’s upcoming Everest Carnival go to theraces.com.au