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The centrepiece of Sydney’s Spring Racing Carnival – on the biggest sporting weekend on the city’s calendar.

This year promises even more history at Royal Randwick on Saturday as the time-honoured $500,000 The Star Epsom Handicap and two other Group 1 races kick off a cracking long weekend of entertainment.

Will the queen of Sydney racing Gai Waterhouse break the training record of her legendary father, or will the new king in waiting Chris Waller add his own new chapter?

Waterhouse will saddle up three runners in The Star Epsom – Liberty’s Choice ($26 TAB Fixed Odds), Woodbine ($31 TAB Fixed Odds) and Pheidon ($35 TAB Fixed Odds) – as she attempts to train her eighth winner of the race to surpass her dad TJ Smith’s remarkable record.

Boban ($6 TAB Fixed Odds) for Sydney’s premier trainer Chris Waller would be only the seventh horse in the history of the race since it was first run in 1866 to win consecutive Epsom handicaps.

Tab.com.au has opened a special market on how many Group 1 winners Chris Waller will train at Royal Randwick on Saturday, with 0 wins at $4, one win at $2.10, two wins at $3.10 and all three majors at $13.

Visiting Brazilian jockey Joao “Magic Man’’ Moreira would add international history to The Star Epsom if he won aboard Waller’s He’s Your Man ($6 TAB Fixed Odds), one of seven rides that the visiting superstar jockey has on the nine-race card.

And history from a different era will start and finish Saturday’s race day with a rare 10-minute documentary of the Australia’s most famous horse – Phar Lap – shown on the infield superscreen and selected televisions throughout Royal Randwick.

The Mighty Conqueror is the only documentary filmed of Phar Lap while the horse was still alive and features rare footage at Royal Randwick trackwork, interviews with jockey Jim Pike and trainer and co-owner Harry Telford, and footage of the horse winning several races, including his famous 1930 Melbourne Cup, and the 1931 Randwick Plate, run on 10 October 1931, his last Sydney run.

It will be shown in full before the first race shortly after the gates open at 10.30am, after the last race at Flemington at 5.35pm, and also in two five minutes intervals before and after The Star Epsom.

The Group 1 $400,000 McGrath Estate Agents Metropolitan features a big field of 16 runners with many chances including Spillway ($4.60 TAB Fixed Odds) and Makybe Diva’s little sister La Amistad ($8 TAB Fixed Odds) – looking to not only win a feature race on Saturday but further press claims for the big cups down south later in Spring.

Two of Sydney’s best fillies – Winx ($2.30 TAB Fixed Odds) and First Seal ($2.60 TAB Fixed Odds) - shape up in another career-defining race in the Group 1 $400,000 Coolmore Flight Stakes, whilst the “babies’’ run in the first major two year old races of the season in the Listed $100,000 Keenland Gimcrack Stakes for the girls and the Listed $100,000 NSW Thoroughbred Breeders Plate for the boys.

On Sydney’s NRL Grand Final weekend, ticket holders to the game will also be admitted free to Royal Randwick on Saturday by simply showing their ticket at the gates.

Patrons who book tickets online at www.theraces.com.au before 11.59pm on Friday receive a 25 per cent discount on general admission, and also go into a draw for a $1000 voucher from The Star.

ATC Members and general admission punters will also be spoiled for choice by the entertainment off the track with a range of attractions on offer including:

- Pop-up bars across the racecourse precinct and spacious Royal Randwick lawns;

- The chance to win one of two VIP Autumn Racing packages including ticketing, accommodation and hospitality worth $3000 by buying a James Boags beer;

- A Clinique Pamper Lounge with free makeup touch-ups on the Octagonal Lawn;

- DJs and the roving “Here to Help’’ Gentlemen who will hand out free gifts and race day essentials all afternoon;

- Free shuttle buses to The Star for the official after-race party, including a complimentary drink on arrival by showing a race day entry ticket.

Australian Turf Club Executive General Manager of Commercial and Sales Tony Partridge said Saturday at Royal Randwick, with the promise of another spectacular Sydney spring day, would be the start of a momentous weekend for sporting fans.

“With three Group 1 races, footage of Phar Lap rarely seen before, and the promise of pre celebrations ahead of a great NRL rugby league Grand Final, spring in Sydney doesn’t get much better,’’ Mr Partridge said.

“Royal Randwick is ready to show all of the city’s sparkle on and off the track and with great weather on the horizon again, Saturday will be the start of the biggest show in town.’’

Gates for ATC Members open from 10.15am and for the general public from 10.30am with free buses running to and from Central Station to the Alison Rd busway through the day.

Royal Randwick racecourse also has a dedicated taxi rank from Ascot Street and also offers free infield parking by entry from High Street.

Free high-capacity WiFi is available across the entire racecourse precinct.