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The Group 2 $250,000 Furphy Expressway Stakes and support card at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday begins the first of 12 consecutive weeks of Group racing in Sydney as Australian Turf Club heads towards the prestigious Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.

Just six weeks from the official start of the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival and some 49 days until the iconic Group 1 $5 million Longines Golden Slipper, Saturday also sees the running of two key pathway races to the world’s richest race for two-year-olds.

The Group 3 $200,000 Widden Stakes for the fillies and Group 3 $200,000 Fujitsu General Canonbury Stakes for the colts and geldings will see TAB futures markets and the official prizemoney order of entry take further shape for the Longines Golden Slipper.

Golden Mile (Sam Clipperton) in winning touch at Rosehill Gardens. Image by Steve Hart Photographics

Australian Turf Club Executive General Manager Racing and Wagering, James Ross said Saturday’s meeting was a first look at emerging autumn stars.

“The return of Callander/Presnell winner in Golden Mile and a multiple Group 1 winner in Forbidden Love in the Furphy Expressway Stakes is a taste of many months of star gallopers in Sydney,"  Mr Ross said.

“The countdown to the Longines Golden Slipper is also in full swing as every Saturday now in Sydney we look towards the ultimate prize in world two-year-old racing."

Godolphin’s James Cummings-trained Golden Mile with James McDonald to ride has opened a $2.25-$2.30 TAB favourite for the Furphy Expressway Stakes just ahead of three-time Group 1 winner Forbidden Love ($2.50) for Michael Freedman and Kerrin McEvoy.

Godolphin is looking for its third winner in just the past five renewals of the race (Alizee 2019 and Savatiano 2021). It would be six-times Sydney premiership winning jockey James McDonald’s first victory in the race.

Mariamia for Warwick Farm trainer Joe Pride and jockey Tim Clark is next at $5.50. Pride last won the Furphy Expressway Stakes with his champion galloper Rain Affair (2012) while Tim Clark is looking for his third win in the race (2018 Trapeze Artist and 2022 Overpass).

The Canonbury Stakes sees the return of ruling Longines Golden Slipper favourite King’s Gambit, who for this Saturday’s race has opened a raging $1.40 favourite for trainers Peter and Paul Snowden.

Last start Rosehill Gardens winner Red Resistance (Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott/Brett Prebble) and first starter Shinzo (Chris Waller/Brenton Avdulla) share equal second picks at $5.50.

In the Group 3 $200,000 Widden Stakes, the Annabel Neasham trained Learning To Fly opens a well-backed early TAB top pick at $4.80 into $3.50, with jockey Chad Schofield to ride.

Waterhouse and Bott saddle up with jockey Tim Clark on second favourite Perfect Proposal.

For all racing, general and ticketing information go to theraces.com.au including early discounts for the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival at Rosehill Gardens and Royal Randwick.

NOTE: Following the running of Race 1 the Gary Portelli-trained SEJARDAN (Brenton Avdulla) and ABOVE AND BEYOND (Brock Ryan) will speed over 800m in an exhibition gallop.