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Three Group 1 races and a host of trackside entertainment across world-famous Royal Randwick kicks off a huge Sydney long weekend of racing and sport this Saturday at the Australian Turf Club’s Everest Carnival.

The Group 1 $1 million TAB Epsom, Group 1 $750,000 Heineken 3 Metropolitan and Group 1 $500,000 Darley Flight Stakes take centre stage on the track at Royal Randwick.

Just two weeks from the world’s richest race on turf the $14 million The TAB Everest, the Group 2 $500,000 Bisley Workwear Premiere Stakes features several The TAB Everest runners and contenders in another crack field of sprinters in the Sydney spring.

As Sydney prepares to host the NRL Grand Final between the Sydney Roosters and Canberra Raiders on Sunday, ticketholders to the big game can gain free entry to Royal Randwick.

Racing fans can scan their valid pre-purchased 2019 NRL Grand Final ticket at the Royal Randwick gates for free entry this Saturday.

Two of Australian sport’s most treasured trophies – the spectacular The TAB Everest trophy and the NRL Premiership trophy – will be on display and available to patrons for “selfies” on Saturday.

The Group 1 $1 million TAB Epsom has attracted capacity acceptances and a wide-open betting market from the renowned Royal Randwick mile start.

Kolding ($5 on TAB fixed odds), looking to give champion trainer Chris Waller a fourth TAB Epsom, is the early favourite for the jockey Glen Boss, aiming to add to his own incredible Royal Randwick mile tally.

Cult Kiwi galloper Te Akau Shark for trainer Jamie Richards and jockey James McDonald is a $6 second favourite for a huge group of owners, including retired NRL star Paul Gallen.

They are followed in betting by Dreamforce ($7) on his home track for trainer John Thompson and jockey Nash Rawiller, and the highly-promising Hawkes Racing galloper Rock ($7.50) for jockey Kerrin McEvoy.

The Group 1 $750,000 Heineken 3 Metropolitan has also attracted a big field, headed in TAB markets by Chris Waller’s Brimham Rocks ($4.60) and Kerrin McEvoy.

Australia’s first lady of racing Gai Waterhouse is looking to win her ninth Heineken 3 Metropolitan and a first with training partner Adrian Bott with stablemates Hush Writer (jockey Tim Clark) and Stampede (Adam Hyeronimus) both at $8.5.

Trainer Mark Newnham partners with Irish jockey Robbie Dolan with the mare Scarlet Dream ($6).

The Group 1 $500,000 Darley Flight Stakes features a head-to-head betting clash in TAB markets with two star fillies – Funstar ($1.85) for Waller and McDonald – and another Jamie Richards kiwi galloper in Probabeel and jockey Kerrin McEvoy ($2.20).

On a huge card of racing, the Group 2 $500,000 Bisley Workwear Premiere Stakes will have further bearing on markets for the world’s richest race on turf, the $14 million The TAB Everest, on 19 October at Royal Randwick.

TAB Everest slot runner Classique Legend for legendary trainer Les Bridge and jockey Nash Rawiller is a $2.30 favourite, ahead of Godolphin’s Osborne Bulls ($3), ridden by Hugh Bowman, as he pushes for a slot.

And the first steps on the pathway to the iconic Longines Golden Slipper are taken on Saturday for the two-year-olds, with the Group 3 $160,000 Keeneland Gimcrack Stakes for the fillies and Group 3 $160,000 Arrowfield Breeders’ Plate for the colts and geldings.

Trainer Mark Newnham’s filly Every Rose ($2.90) for Josh Parr ahead of the Peter and Paul Snowden trained Stellar Pauline ($4.20) and Kerrin McEvoy are the early TAB favourites for the “baby girls”.

Godolphin’s Beyliks ($3.50) for trainer James Cummings and jockey Hugh Bowman is the early favourite for the boys in the Arrowfield Breeders’ Plate, ahead of Belieber for the Waterhouse and Bott stable ($4.40).

After the last race on a big nine-race card, popular party band Furnace and the Fundamentals will perform a 45-minute concert in the Theatre Of The Horse.

The concert – along with DJ sets inside the Australian Turf Club’s new Pony Palms precinct on the Leger Lawn – are all included in the price of general admission tickets.

Australian Turf Club Executive General Manager Racing Services, James Heddo, said: “The Everest Carnival this Saturday continues the climb to two of the biggest races in the world in the $14 million The TAB Everest on 19 October and the inaugural $7.5 million Golden Eagle at Rosehill Gardens on 2 November.”

The Royal Randwick track was rated a Soft 5 on Thursday afternoon with a track report and video with Royal Randwick Racecourse Manager Michael Wood available here:

Valid pre-purchased tickets to the races include travel to and from Royal Randwick Racecourse on train, Metro, bus, special event shuttle buses from Central, ferry and light rail services.

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