3 minute read
The first Group 1 of the $66 million Sydney Everest Carnival and a world-class field of elite sprinters are just two features of a huge day of racing and sport starting at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
The group 1 $1 million Fujitsu General George Main Stakes has attracted many of the nation's best weight for age gallopers while the $1 million Group 2 Bowermans Shorts includes six TAB Everest slot runners heading towards the world's richest race on turf.
They are just two highlights on a bumper 10-race card at Royal Randwick as the world-famous Sydney precinct also hosts an AFL final between the Sydney Swans and Collingwood and an NRL finals blockbuster between South Sydney and Cronulla.
Spectators heading to Royal Randwick are encouraged to use light rail services which arrive and depart directly outside the racecourse's main entrance.
Travel on all public transport for General Admission customers and ATC Members is included in their purchased ticket, or by showing a valid ATC Membership card.
Australian Turf Club Chief Executive, Jamie Barkley said Sydney's spring extravaganza of racing and entertainment signalled the city's favourite time to enjoy live outdoor events.
"This Saturday at Royal Randwick is the start of one of world racing's biggest events and where it is Sydney's time to shine in spring," Mr Barkley said.
"We are delighted to host the start of a super weekend of racing and sport and to be preparing to welcome punters to the $47 million Winx Stand, all included in their entry ticket.
"With our partners Racing NSW, over the next eight weeks we will see $66 million in prizemoney won for horses and owners coming from across NSW, Australia and beyond."
The rising superstar of Australian racing Anamoe – already a four-time Group 1 winner and with five other placings in 10 starts at the elite level – is an opening $2-$2.10 TAB favourite in the Fujitsu General George Main Stakes for James Cummings and James McDonald.
The Annanbel Neasham-trained Zaaki – a three-time Group 1 winner with three other placings from just eight attempts – is a strongly backed $3.50-$3.10 TAB second favourite with Tommy Berry aboard.
Eight of the 10 horses in the Fujitsu General George Main Stakes have won Group 1 races and collectively the horses have won 17 Group 1 races and a total of $27 million in prizemoney.
Fangirl for Chris Waller and Hugh Bowman is at $9-$9.50 TAB ahead of stablemate Hinged $18 (jockey Kerrin McEvoy) and multiple-Group 1 winning mares in Duais $18 (Edward Cummings and Josh Parr) and Montefilia $26 (David Payne and Jason Collett).
A super field of 13 lines up in the $1 million Bowermans Shorts headed by defending TAB Everest champion and the world's highest rated sprinter Nature Strip – backed early from $2.80 into the $2.50 favourite on TAB for Waller and McDonald.
His great rival Eduardo – trained by Joe Pride and with Brenton Avdulla aboard – is a $3.50-$4 second TAB pick in the star-studded field. Both horses have an amazing record over the 1100m trip on Saturday – winning or placing 15 times from a combined 17 starts.
Combined, the 13-horse field in the Bowermans Shorts have won close to $48 million over their careers.
Fellow TAB Everest slot runners in Saturday's race include Mazu $7 (Peter and Paul Snowden and Sam Clipperton), Lost and Running $8-$9 (John O'Shea and Hugh Bowman), Classique Legend $11-$14 (Les Bridge and Kerrin McEvoy) and Masked Crusader $15-$19 (Hawkes Racing and William Pike).
Saturday's card also includes the Group 2 $250,000 Darley Tea Rose Stakes – the third leg of Royal Randwick's Darley Princess Series. Zougotcha, who won the first leg of the series (Darley Silver Shadow Stakes), is the opening $3.40-$2.60 TAB favourite for Waller and McDonald ahead of North Star Lass, the second series leg winner (Darley Furious Stakes) for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and jockey Regan Bayliss at $6.50-$5 TAB.
The Group 3 $200,000 Furphy Kingston Town Stakes as a key pathway to the Group 1 Furphy Metropolitan and the Group 3 $200,000 Bill Ritchie as a feature pathway to the Group 1 TAB Epsom add to Saturday's Black Type program.
