Latest News

Three time-honoured spring Group 1 races and a pivotal race ahead of the $20 million TAB Everest feature at Royal Randwick on Saturday during one of Sydney’s biggest days of racing and sport this long weekend.

The $1.5 million TAB Epsom, $750,000 James Squire The Metropolitan and $750,000 Darley Flight Stakes continues the world-renowned $85 million Sydney Everest Carnival.

On the eve of the NRL Grand Final in Sydney, ticketholders to that game will be given free entry to Royal Randwick on Saturday by simply showing their official Grand Final ticket at the gates.

Tim Clark returns after winning on Royal Patronage (Saturday's TAB Epsom equal favourite) at Royal Randwick. Image by Bradley Photographers

Just two weeks from the $20m TAB Everest, Saturday also sees the $1 million Group 2-Precise Air Premiere Stakes including several horses hoping to gain final slots in the Royal Randwick showpiece on 19 October.

The bumper card also sees the first races for two-year-olds ultimately aiming for the iconic Golden Slipper: the $250,000 Group 3-Keeneland Gimcrack Stakes and $250,000 Group 3-Arrowfield Breeders’ Plate.

Australian Turf Club Executive General Manager Racing and Wagering, Nevesh Ramdhani said TAB Epsom Day continued a tradition at Royal Randwick over the long weekend.

“TAB Epsom Day with three Group Ones, TAB Everest contenders and the first two-year-old races of the season is one of the best cards all year," Mr Ramdhani said.

“Three time-honoured Group 1 races are joined by a crucial pathway and final lead up to the [$20 million] TAB Everest along with important breed-shaping juvenile races in the Arrowfield Breeders Stakes and Keeneland Gimcrack Stakes."

Full fields for Royal Randwick can be found HERE and full TAB markets for all 10 races HERE.

The 159th renewal of the $1.5 million TAB Epsom has attracted a capacity field and wide-open betting jointly headed in TAB markets by the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott trained Royal Patronage ($6.50) for jockey Tim Clark.

Joe Pride’s Ceolwulf is the $6.50 equal favourite for jockey Chad Schofield as the Warwick Farm trainer looks to win a second TAB Epsom.

Gai Waterhouse holds the record for most wins as a trainer (seven) with her legendary father TJ Smith and the stable also has Major Beel in the race ($11) with Winona Costin to ride.

Sydney’s 14-time premiership winning trainer Chris Waller – with seven entries in Saturday’s field – is looking to train his sixth TAB Epsom winner.

He has Kovalica ($7; James McDonald), Democracy Manifest ($17; Kerrin McEvoy) and reigning TAB Epsom champion Rediener ($26; Josh Parr) among his runners.

Royal Randwick’s iconic trainer Gai Waterhouse also holds the record for the most winners of in the $750,000 Group 1-James Squire The Metropolitan with nine victories.

Chris Waller has eight entries (three emergencies) in a wide-open TAB betting market in the 161st running of the James Squire Metropolitan, headed by Unusual Legacy at $6.50 in advance of Land Legend ($7) for jockey Reece Jones.

The stable also has another two horses high in betting – First Light ($10; Mark Du Plessis) and Etna Rosso ($10; Kerrin McEvoy).

As Waller Racing looks to win the race for a sixth time, Waterhouse & Bott with two runners would secure a 10th win for Tulloch Lodge. They saddle up Serpentine ($11-$10; Tim Clark) and Military Mission ($26; Regan Bayliss).

In the Group 1-Darley Flight Stakes, boom unbeaten filly Autumn Glow (Waller and McDonald) is a heavily backed $1.70-$1.50 TAB favourite.

Saturday’s $1 million Group 2-Precise Air Premiere Stakes could also provide further runners in the $20m TAB Everest with two former winners aiming to again run in the world’s richest race on turf.

Giga Kick for Clayton Douglas and James McDonald – a winner of the TAB Everest in 2022 and looking for a slot – opens is the $2.50 favourite on Saturday ahead of confirmed TAB Everest runner Bella Nipotina for Ciaron Maher and Craig Williams ($2.90).

Reigning TAB Everest champion Think About it – also looking for a slot – is next at $4 for trainer Joe Pride and jockey Jason Collett.

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