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Australia’s Horse Of The Year in a stellar field and a group of rising stars across a strong card feature at Royal Randwick this Saturday as Sydney racing steps up another gear towards the official start of Australian Turf Club’s Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.
10-time Group 1 winner Verry Elleegant returns to the track in the day's main event – the Group 2 $250,000 The Agency Apollo Stakes – where she is a $4.60-$5 TAB second favourite for trainer Chris Waller and James McDonald.
Multiple Group 1 winner Think It Over is the early $4.60-$4.20 favourite for Kembla Grange trainer Kerry Parker and jockey Nash Rawiller after the trio's hugely successful Everest Carnival which ended with three consecutive feature victories and a $1 million prizemoney bonus.
Godolphin's Golden Eagle and Australian Oaks winner Colette has been strongly backed into third favourite ($11-$7.50) for James Cummings and Tim Clark ahead of Riodini for Royal Randwick trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and ridden by Rachel King ($11-$8) in the 14-horse field.
The Agency Apollo Stakes field collectively has won more than $47 million in prizemoney.
Australian Turf Club Executive General Manager Racing and Wagering, James Ross said The Agency Apollo Stakes had attracted a top-class field which included seven Group 1 winners.
"The Agency Apollo Stakes field has again attracted a high-quality field including two of the nation's very best weight for age gallopers," Mr Ross said.
"Saturday's meeting is strong across the card and continues an exciting build-up to the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival including more emerging contenders for the Longines Golden Slipper."
The Group 2 $200,000 TAB Light Fingers Stakes sees the highly anticipated return of Chris Waller's boom filly Espiona ($1.50-$1.55 -$1.50 fav) with James McDonald aboard. Talented stablemate Fangirl with jockey Hugh Bowman has been backed early ($8-$7.50) while Jamaea sits third in the TAB market, also well backed from $13-$8.50.
Saturday's 10-race card also sees another pathway race to the $5 million Longines Golden Slipper, with the $150,000 Coolmore Pierro Plate to open the day's racing.
First starter Metallicity (Peter and Paul Snowden/jockey Tommy Berry) who already sits on the third line of TAB betting for the Longines Golden Slipper has been strongly backed in Saturday's race ($2-$2.15-$1.90 fav).