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More than 1400 nominations across a host of feature races at The Star Championships have been received by Racing NSW and the Australian Turf Club ahead of next month’s Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.
The Championships will again feature more than $20 million in prizemoney across race meetings on 6 and 13 April headlined by eight Group 1 Races.
Group 1 races to receive increased nominations included the $4 million The Star Doncaster Mile (up 23 to 187), Australian Derby (up 17 to 134), ATC Oaks (up 13 to 121) and Arrowfield Sprint (up 6 to 160)
Leading stables to nominate are: Ciaron Maher – 125, Chris Waller – 120, G Waterhouse & A Bott – 99, Annabel Neasham – 67, Kris Lees – 66, Peter & Paul Snowden – 48, James Cummings 47.
Included are 23 international nominations from leading UK, Hong Kong and Japanese stables.
Two nominations were received from the William Haggas Stable, led by Queen Elizabeth Stakes entry Mujtaba and three from Hong Kong including Group 1 Winner Voyage Bubble for Trainer Rick Yui.
A total of 18 nominations were connections from Japan including seven for The Star Doncaster Mile, headed by reigning Golden Eagle champion Obamburumai. A further eight were taken for the $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes
Leading New Zealand stables lodged 42 nominations across key races including the ATC Derby (8) and ATC Oaks (10), featuring rising stars Orchestral and Ascend The Throne.
Australian Turf Club Head of Racing and Wagering James Ross said: "We are very pleased with the strong support shown by local and international trainers surpassing 1400 nominations for The Championships this year, and we look forward to staging some of the best renewals of time-honored races such as the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and The Star Doncaster Mile
"The Sydney Autumn Carnival contains seven of the Top 100 races in the World according to The Longines Worlds Best races and it is exciting to see such a large number of Group 1 winners coming together for the Grand Finals of Australian racing.
"The Championships will be broadcast to over 65 countries via our broadcast partner SKY International and we are pleased to have the support of the Hong Kong Jockey Club and World Pool Simulcasting for both meetings in 2024 for the first time."
A full list of all nominations for all 10 races across both days at Royal Randwick are available below.
The Star Championships Day 1 and The Star Championships Day 2.
Headline horses to nominate include:
· Inaugural King Charles III Stakes winner Fangirl heading to the $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Queen of the Turf Stakes & The Star Doncaster Mile
· 2023 Everest champion Think About It holds entries for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, The Star Doncaster Mile and TJ Smith Stakes
· Star NZ sprinter Imperatriz in the Group 1 $3 million TJ Smith Stakes, looking to clash with 2023 winner I Wish I Win also nominated for the 1200m feature.
· Back-to-back winner of The Star Doncaster Mile Mr Brightside aiming for either the Queen Elizabeth Stakes or a unique three consecutive victories in Doncaster Mile
· 18 Japanese entries including Golden Eagle winner Obamburamai in The Star Doncaster Mile
· William Haggas will be represented by Mujtaba who will be aimed at the Queen Elizabeth Stakes along with Post Impressionist aimed at the Schweppes Sydney Cup.
Other Group 1 races to see increases in nominations across the Autumn 2024 include the SKY Active Rosehill Guineas (up 19), Surround Stakes (up 45) and Randwick Guineas up 13.
