The spectacular Sydney Everest Carnival continues at Royal Randwick on Saturday for a glamour day of racing on Moët & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes Day, along with the running of two new races on the Spring calendar.
A field of 12 including two fillies lines up in the Group 1 $2 million Moët & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes which has increased in prizemoney and runs a week after the record-breaking TAB Everest Day.
Saturday also sees the second running of the $2m The Invitation – featuring a select field of 12 of Australia’s best mares – and the inaugural running of the Group 2 $1m Callander-Presnell to celebrate the illustrious careers of racing media legends Ken Callander and Max Presnell.
Australian Turf Club Executive General Manager Racing and Wagering, James Ross said Saturday’s card continued Sydney’s record $66m Everest Carnival.
“The [Group 1] $2 million Moët & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes is the centrepiece of this new day continuing the biggest carnival in Sydney racing’s history," Mr Ross said.
“We are also delighted along with Racing NSW to honour two champions of the racing media in Ken Callander and Max Presnell who have given so much to racing.
“The $2 million The Invitation in its second year is building a profile of showcasing some of Australia’s best mares coming from different pathway races to a grand final."
Elliptical for Victorian trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman and jockey Blake Shinn has opened a $4 TAB favourite in the main race of the day, the Group 1 $2m Moët & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes.
Williamsburg has been strongly backed early with TAB ($6 into $5) for in-form trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou with Kerrin McEvoy aboard.
Two fillies are high in the early TAB Fixed Odds market – She’s Extreme for Anthony Cummings and jockey Glyn Schofield ($6) and Renaissance Woman ($10) for Bjorn Baker and Rachel King.
Fillies have won three of the past six runnings – including Maid Of Heaven for jockey Rachel King as she chases a second victory in the race.
Icebath – looking to win back- to- back renewals of The Invitation – is the $4.80 TAB favourite for trainer Brad Widdup and jockey Tom Sherry.
Forbidden Love – who ran third in the race last year – is at $6 for trainer Michael Freedman and Blake Shinn, with Espiona at $6.50 for champion trainer Chris Waller and Brenton Avdulla. Group 1 winner Nimalee trained by Matthew Smith and to be ridden by Regan Bayliss is at $6.
Group 1-winning colt Golden Mile – for Godolphin trainer James Cummings and jockey Hugh Bowman – is the $1.80 TAB favourite in the $1m Callander-Presnell. Communist has been heavily backed in opening markets as second favourite ($6-$4.80) for the Michael Freedman and Blake Shinn combination.
Ken Callander said: “I love Royal Randwick and to think there is a race named in my honour is very, very humbling. I couldn’t choose a better partner for this race than Max Presnell."
Max Presnell said: “Royal Randwick is my sacred turf. To share a major event title there with my mate Ken Callander? Unbelievable comes to mind, but I’ll settle for awesome."
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