3 minute read

Popular mare Catkins and a field of outstanding three-year-olds headline a strong card of Group racing at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday as the countdown begins to the highly-anticipated eight weeks of Sydney autumn racing.

The Chris Waller trained Catkins – one of Sydney’s most popular horses – has opened a hot favourite for the $175,000 G2 Thoroughbred Breeders NSW Classic, ahead of the promising Hawkes Racing mare Mihiri and John Sargent’s Neena Rock.

Catkins is looking to win the race for a second consecutive year, following the back to back wins of Steps In Time in 2012 and 2013.

The Breeders Classic has been won in recent years by some of the nation’s best mares including More Joyous, Alverta, Hot Danish and Private Steer.

The $150,000 G3 Eskimo Prince Quality has drawn a wide-open field of cracking three year old colts and geldings heading for major races in the autumn.

Scissor Kick and Inz’N‘Out lead the field of carnival-bound horses including the Chris Waller trio Delectation, Harrier Jet and Kermadec, Peter and Paul Snowden’s Diamond Valores and the David Payne trained Bold Circle.

Top Sydney jockey Hugh Bowman will be out to win his third successive Eskimo Prince Quality on Delectation, who returns from a spell after a slashing second in G1 company last start.

A field of 11 two year olds will be chasing $250,000 in prizemoney in the Inglis Classic.

The race features the promising Inglis Nursery winner Odyssey Moon, trained by Scone’s Rodney Northam, taking on the last start runaway five-length Canterbury winner Serenade.

Last year’s Inglis Classic winner Peggy Jean went on to G1 glory at The Championships, winning the Inglis Sires at Royal Randwick.

Saturday’s racing comes as Sydney Autumn Racing looms, with the official start of the carnival on Liverpool City Council Chipping Norton Stakes Day at Warwick Farm on 28 February.

The Golden Slipper Carnival is at Rosehill Gardens on 14, 21 and 28 March, and the second running of The Championships at Royal Randwick on 4 and 11 April.

Rosehill Gardens has free parking, scheduled train services which stop directly outside the course and free high-capacity WiFi across the racecourse precinct.