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The first two Group 1 races of the Sydney Autumn showcase the cream of Australia’s best horses at Royal Randwick this Saturday including the 100th running of the main feature.

The Group 1 $1 million TAB Verry Elleegant Stakes sees the return clash of three superstar gallopers – Via Sistina, Fangirl and Ceolwulf – while the Group 1 $750,000 The Chase Surround Stakes sees boom filly Lady Shenandoah in action.

The TAB Verry Elleegant Stakes, named in honour of one of Australia’s greatest mares, is run for the 100th time, formerly known as The Chipping Norton Stakes.

Saturday’s other Group 1 sees a new partnership between the Australian Turf Club and The Chase, a world class thoroughbred operation established to support the Australian breeding interests of the internationally recognised China Horse Club.

“The Chase is proud to contribute to the industry through the G1 The Chase Surround Stakes, continuing a long-standing relationship our group has with the ATC,” The Chase’s Mike Smith said.

Verry Elleegant (Pic: Bradley Photos).

Australian Turf Club Head Of Racing and Wagering Nevesh Ramdhani said: “The Chase Surround Stakes is a highly-coveted Group 1 event for fillies and we are thrilled to have a well-established breeding and racing operation in The Chase as partners for the first time.

“For a century the TAB Verry Elleegant Stakes has been won by our greatest champions and again on Saturday we see the very best weight for age horses in Australia clash.

“Saturday begins eight consecutive weeks of Group 1 racing along with two more pivotal qualifying races for the Group 1 $5 million TAB Golden Slipper.’’

14-time Sydney premier trainer Chris Waller saddles up two of the stable’s biggest stars in the TAB Verry Elleegant Stakes – Via Sistina (James McDonald) at $1.85 TAB and Fangirl (Jason Collett) at $2.90 TAB.

Dual Royal Randwick Group 1 winner Ceolwulf trained by Joe Pride and ridden by Chad Schofield is at $5.50 TAB.

The trio resume rivalry after their first-up runs in the Petaluma Apollo Stakes with 15 of the past 20 winners of the TAB Verry Elleegant coming through that lead up.

Lady Shenandoah for Waller and McDonald opens a strongly backed $1.85 to $1.70 TAB favourite in The Chase Surround Stakes as she chases a fourth consecutive win.

She resumed in the TAB Light Fingers Stakes, a race which has featured 10 of the past 16 winners of The Chase Surround, with the runner-up Lady Of Camelot a $4 TAB chance for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and jockey Tim Clark.

Saturday’s 10-race card also includes three Group 2 events along with a Group 3 race.

Full fields for Royal Randwick are here.

The Group 2 $300,000 Catanach’s Jewellers Skyline Stakes has unbeaten Shaggy at $2.30 TAB for trainer Allan Kehoe and jockey Adam Hyeronimus as they look to gain a fairytale entry into the TAB Golden Slipper.

In the fillies’ event – the Group 2 $300,000 TAB Sweet Embrace Stakes – the all-powerful Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott look to qualify another runner in the TAB Golden Slipper with early favourite Bellazaine ($3.80-$4 TAB) for jockey Tim Clark.

The Group 2 $300,000 Proven Thoroughbreds Guy Walter Stakes has Amelia’s Jewel ($2.50 TAB) early top betting pick for Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald and jockey James McDonald.

The Group 3 Liverpool City Cup has a wide-open market with Willaidow (Marc Conners and Tyler Schiller) at $4 TAB favourite ahead of Iowna Merc trained by Bjorn Baker and Josh Parr aboard at $4.60 TAB.

For all racing, general and ticketing information including booking for the upcoming Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival go to theraces.com.au.