3 minute read

Ladies take centre stage for the glamour day of the Sydney Spring Carnival at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

With a filly the red-hot favourite in the Group 1 $400,000 Moët & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes and $100,000 in prizes on offer for the best dressed women on the course.

The NSW State final of Myer Fashions On The Field offers a huge prize pool and the chance for Saturday’s winner to compete in the national final on Oaks Day at Flemington. ATC Members and general admission customers will also be in the running for a range of other prizes on the day, including a luxury trip for two to Europe.

General admission patrons who book tickets online at - www.theraces.com.au - before 11:59pm on Friday (10th October) receive a 25% discount on entry to the course.

All eyes on the track will be on the sensationally backed First Seal – the $1.85 TAB Fixed Odds favourite in the Moët & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes. First Seal is striving to create history as the first filly to win the race, which includes on its honour roll champions such as It’s A Dundeel, Savabeel, Tie The Knot, St Jude, Stylish Century, Beau Zam, Sir Dapper and the great Kingston Town.

First Seal has been heavily backed in from $2.30 TAB Fixed Odds while her main danger – Sweynesse from John O’Shea’s in-form Godolphin stable – has been backed into $3.50 TAB Fixed Odds after a $20,000 bet was taken at $3.80.

There will be more competition from the ladies, with the Queen of Sydney racing Gai Waterhouse saddling up Hampton Court ($15 TAB Fixed Odds) and Valentia ($17 TAB Fixed Odds), while Kathy O’Hara rides Drum Roll ($101 TAB Fixed Odds) and Winona Costin is on a second filly in the race Press Report ($26 TAB Fixed Odds).

The Moët & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes contains form lines through the George Main Stakes (Panzer Division $6 Tab Fixed Odds), along with the Coolmore Flight Stakes, Gloaming Stakes, Stan Fox and the Dulcify Quality, as the newly-placed race on week two at Royal Randwick continues to build its status as spring’s best guide to the champion three-year-old classic performer.

It has also become a major indicator to further glory in the autumn with the past two BMW Australian Derby winners Criterion and It’s A Dundeel coming through the race.

Australian Turf Club Executive General Manager of Racing, Matt Rudolph, said: “The Moët & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes will be just that for our classic division, with the showdown of the Coolmore Flight Stakes winner First Seal against the males. The repositioning of the race on the calendar has brought together lines of form from five very strong races, which makes for an enthralling finale to our spring Group Ones.”

The Myer Fashions On The Field will be held on the Octagonal Lawn with registrations taken from 11am to 1pm, and the competition beginning from 12.30pm. A celebrity judging panel – including ATC Ambassadors Jodi and Braith Anasta, Myer ambassadors Kris Smith and Laura Dundovic and Vogue Editor Edwina McCann – announce the winner at 2pm.

Customers on course who celebrate in style on Saturday by buying a 750ml bottle of Moët & Chandon non-vintage will have a chance to be allocated a runner in the Group One race – with a luxury trip to Paris to be won.

Patrons who buy a bottle from selected bars on course will be handed four Moët & Chandon gold bubbles, with a total of nine “winning" bubbles ultimately allocated to a runner in the Moët & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes. One lucky punter given the winning horse number will win return economy flights for two to Paris, three nights accommodation, and a luxury Parisian dining experience worth more than $8000.

Several dedicated areas will also be set aside for ladies, including the Event Cinemas Bondi Junction Ladies Lounge on the Leger Lawn with a nail bar and prizes, a Clinique Pamper Lounge on the Members Lawn in front of the grandstand and a Smooth FM Relaxation Station on the Leger Lawn.

General admission punters will also be in the running for prizes with those who buy a James Boag’s beer in the running for a VIP Autumn Racing package including ticketing, accommodation and hospitality worth $3000 and the P & O Cruise Guru Marquee, and a competition for a 3-night cruise.

Free shuttle buses run to The Star for the official after-race party, including a complimentary drink on arrival by showing a raceday entry ticket. Gates for ATC Members open from 10.45am and for the general public from 11am 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. For all raceday ticketing, hospitality and general information go to - www.theraces.com.au