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Seven weeks of world-class thoroughbred racing – Sydney’s spectacular Everest Carnival – begins at Royal Randwick this Saturday featuring the Group 1 $500,000 Fujitsu George Main Stakes.

The Everest Carnival offers more than $41 million in prizemoney including 28 Group and Blacktype races at Royal Randwick and Rosehill Gardens from this Saturday until 31 October.

Included are Australian racing’s most innovative races – the world’s richest race on turf the $15 million TAB Everest at Royal Randwick on 19 October and the second running of the $7.5 million Iron Jack Golden Eagle at Rosehill Gardens on 31 October.

Saturday’s meeting to open the Everest Carnival has attracted 130 entries across nine races and includes another high-class field of sprinters in a pathway race to the TAB Everest – the Group 2 $500,000 Bowermans Commercial Furniture Shorts.

The third leg of the Darley Princess Series – the Group 2 $200,000 Darley Tea Rose Stakes – the Group 3 $160,000 Bill Ritchie Handicap and the Group 3 $160,000 Schweppes Kingston Town Stakes add further depth to an outstanding card.

Some of Australia’s best weight for age gallopers – headed in TAB markets by the Chris Waller-trained and James McDonald-ridden Verry Elleegant ($2.30) clash in the feature race of the day the Fujitsu George Main Stakes.

Multiple Group 1 winner Avilius for Godolphin trainer James Cummings and jockey Hugh Bowman is at $4.80 with TAB, ahead of the John Thompson trained Dreamforce ($5.50) with jockey Nash Rawiller. Avilius defeated Dreamforce in last year’s George Main Stakes.

Chris Waller – who has trained six of the last eight winners of the race – also has Imaging ($8) with Kerrin McEvoy, Star Of The Seas ($8.50) with Sam Clipperton and reigning TAB Epsom and Iron Jack Golden Eagle champion Kolding ($12) with Tommy Berry aboard.

Australian Turf Club Executive General Manager Racing and Wagering, James Ross said the Fujitsu George Main Stakes continued to be among the Club’s strongest rating races: “This is a high-class field with several multiple Group 1-winning horses engaged and sets up as a great tactical battle," Mr Ross said.

“It is part of a super day of racing as the Australian Turf Club begins the Everest Carnival and it is exciting to see the strength of support races such as The Shorts deliver world-class fields."

Dame Giselle is looking to take a third leg of the Darley Princess series in the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes as the three-year-old fillies continue to step up in distance.

The Peter and Paul Snowden trained filly is a $2.90 TAB second favourite for jockey Tommy Berry, behind the highly touted Hungry Heart ($2) for Chris Waller and James McDonald. The pair dominate the market with all other runners at double-figure odds or better in the 12-horse field.

“Dame Giselle has taken out the first two legs of the Darley Princess Series at Royal Randwick as she continues her bid to create history," Mr Ross said.

The Group 3 Schweppes Kingston Town Stakes – one of several races that leads to the Group 1 Heineken Metropolitan – has attracted a capacity field of 16 runners and five emergencies.

In a wide-open betting race Shared Ambition is the early $4.80 TAB favourite for Waller and McDonald ahead of Hawkes racing trained pair Zebrowski ($6.50, Hugh Bowman) and Angel Of Truth ($7, Tommy Berry).

The Group 3 Bill Ritchie Handicap sees outstanding Kiwi filly Probabeel for top New Zealand trainer Jamie Richards and jockey Kerrin McEvoy the $3.50 TAB favourite. She has won six of her eight starts on good tracks – a surface she will get this Saturday at Royal Randwick.

The Royal Randwick course proper was rated a Good 4 on Thursday morning and will be an ideal racing surface this Saturday according to Racecourse Manager, Michael Wood.

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