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The first Group race of the 2022/23 Sydney Metropolitan racing calendar is run at Royal Randwick this Saturday as Australian Turf Club hosts Jockey Celebration Day and the Group 2 $250,000 Expedo Missile Stakes.

Up to 80 former and retired jockeys will join throughout the day and form a guard of honour for current day jockeys at a presentation in Royal Randwick’s Theatre Of The Horse at 2.30pm, shortly after the running of race 6 the NSW Jockeys Reunion Handicap.

Australian Racing Christian Chaplaincy’s Colin Watts will perform a special blessing over the jockeys.

As part of the raceday, the Australian Turf Club will also present the Athol Mulley Trophy for the leading apprentice at Royal Randwick from the just completed season after race 4, the Jockey Celebration Handicap.

Presentations will also be made to the 2021/22 Metropolitan premiership champion apprentice Tyler Schiller, trainer Chris Waller on his 12^th successive Metropolitan premiership and champion jockey James McDonald on winning his sixth Sydney title.

Race 9 this Saturday is the NSW Jockeys Association Handicap recognising the day’s partnership with the Australian Turf Club.

The Group 2 $250,000 Expedo Missile Stakes on the first Saturday meeting of the new season starts a stellar series of pathway sprint races across coming months ahead of the world’s richest race on turf the $15 million TAB Everest at Royal Randwick.

A number of these upcoming spring sprint feature races this week received increases in prizemoney at an announcement from Racing NSW, including the Group 3 Concorde Stakes at Royal Randwick on 3 September ($500,000 from $160,000), Group 2 The Shorts at Royal Randwick on 17 September ($1 million from $500,000) and ACY Securities Premiere Stakes at Royal Randwick on 1 October ($1 million from $500,000).

Multiple Group 1 winning mare Forbidden Love for trainer Michael Freedman and jockey Hugh Bowman has opened a $3.10 TAB favourite for the Group 2 $250,000 Expedo Missile Stakes. The five-year-old has a strong first-up (4 starts: 2wins and 1 place) and Royal Randwick (11 starts 4 wins 2 places) record.

Talented sprinter Count De Rupee trained by Robert and Luke Price and ridden by Brock Ryan has been a well backed ($5) second favourite ahead of Belluci Babe ($6) for Warwick Farm trainer Bjorn Baker and jockey James McDonald.

Embracer who ran in last year’s TAB Everest is also supported in the 12-horse field market ($8-$7) for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and jockey Regan Bayliss.

Saturday’s meeting also features the $150,000 Recovery Partners Premier’s Cup Prelude and a capacity 14-horse field over the 1800m trip. Lord Ardmore has been strongly supported as early favourite ($3.10) for Chris Waller and Hugh Bowman.

Full fields for Saturday’s Royal Randwick meeting can be found here and full TAB markets for all races here

The Australian Turf Club is offering a Punters Pack special – with a $39 ticket ($60 value) which includes general admission entry, two Furphy beverage vouchers, a $10 food voucher and a racebook.

For all racing, hospitality, general and full ticketing information for Saturday and upcoming racedays click here