Royal Randwick hosts three Group 1 races including the prestigious $1 million TAB Epsom Handicap this Saturday as Sydney kicks off a bumper weekend of racing and sport at the Australian Turf Club’s Everest Carnival.
All NRL Grand Final ticket holders will be admitted free entry to Royal Randwick this Saturday for TAB Epsom Day, which includes the running of the Group 1 $750,000 Heineken 3 Metropolitan and the Group 1 $500,000 Darley Flight Stakes.
AFL fans will be treated to a special undercover, free live site on the Rose Garden Lawn adjacent to the Theatre Of The Horse, with the AFL Grand Final broadcast live on a big screen along with dedicated food and beverage outlets.
Saturday’s huge nine-race card includes the Group 2 $500,000 Santos Coffee Premier Stakes, featuring six horses having their final runs before the world’s richest race on turf the $13 million TAB Everest at Royal Randwick on 13 October.
The meeting also sees the first two-year-old races of the season – the Group 3 $160,000 Keeneland Gimcrack Stakes and Group 3 $160,000 Arrowfield Breeders Plate as the youngsters take their first steps towards Sydney’s iconic Longines Golden Slipper.
Australian Turf Club Acting Chief Executive James Heddo said the Group 1 $1 million TAB Epsom had attracted a capacity field of 20 runners.
“We are delighted with the capacity fields in the TAB Epsom and Heineken 3 Metropolitan which are great betting races and two highlights of a fantastic card of racing,” Mr Heddo said.
“Along with the three Group 1s, the Santos Coffee Premiere Stakes will be a fascinating entrée to the TAB Everest and further shape that market for 13 October.”
In a wide open betting race the Chris Waller-trained flashy grey four-year-old D’argento is the $4.20 TAB Fixed Odds favourite for the TAB Epsom, ahead of stablemate Unforgotten ($4.40 TAB Fixed Odds). The Waller stable has 7 of the 20 runners in the TAB Epsom and is looking to win the race for the fourth time in six years.
Gai Waterhouse in partnership with Adrian Bott is aiming to win the TAB Epsom for a record eighth time, saddling up Siege of Quebec ($13 TAB Fixed Odds) and Arbeitsam ($26 TAB Fixed Odds).
Chris Waller also holds a strong hand in the Group 1 $750,000 Heineken 3 Metropolitan, with eight of the 18 runners, including the early $5 TAB Fixed Odds Brimham Rocks. Miss Admiration from the Victorian yard of Mick Price is on the second line of betting at $6.50 TAB Fixed Odds.
Boom three-year-old filly Miss Fabulass trained by Kris Less is a hot $2 TAB Fixed Odds favourite in the Darley Flight Stakes, ahead of John O’Shea’s Pretty in Pink ($6 TAB Fixed Odds).
Miss Fabulass’s mother Samantha Miss won the Darley Flight Stakes in 2008.
The Group 2 $500,000 Santos Coffee Premiere Stakes features the reigning TAB Everest champion Redzel ($2.60 TAB Fixed Odds) ahead of the Gerald Ryan-trained Trapeze Artist ($3 TAB Fixed Odds).
The next four in the betting on Saturday are also bound for The TAB Everest – In Her Time ($6.50 TAB Fixed Odds), Santa Ana Lane ($8 TAB Fixed Odds), Invincible Star ($9 TAB Fixed Odds) and Shoals ($12 TAB Fixed Odds).
Full markets for all races at Royal Randwick on Saturday are available at tab.com.au
The Royal Randwick track was rated a Soft 5 this morning. Click here for an interview recorded with Royal Randwick Racecourse Manager Nevesh Ramdhani.
Tickets for all ATC race days and Everest Carnival are now on sale and offer up to 20 per cent discounts for early bookings and further discounts for group bookings.
Royal Randwick and all ATC racecourses provide free parking and free high capacity WiFi.
Travel to and from Royal Randwick on Sydney trains, buses, ferries and light rail services is included in your event ticket.
For all ticketing, racing and general information visit TheRaces.com.au
