3 minute read
Two Group 1 features and two key pathway races to the $5 million TAB Golden Slipper are part of a huge card at Royal Randwick this Saturday ahead of the official start of the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.
The Group 1 $1 million The Agency Randwick Guineas and Group 1 $750,000 James Squire Canterbury Stakes are two of nine Group and Listed races on a 10-race card.
Just two weeks from the world's richest race for two-year-olds the Group 2 $300,000 Yarraman Park Reisling Stakes and Group 2 $300,000 UNSW Todman Stakes will see two more runners qualify for the TAB Golden Slipper on 23 March.
Saturday also features the Group 2 $500,000 Hyland Race Colours Challenge Stakes along with the Group 3 $250,000 MostynCopper Aspiration Quality and Group 3 $250,000 Toyota Forklifts Wenona Girl Quality.
Australian Turf Club Head of Racing and Wagering, James Ross said several of some of Australia's highest rated horses would step out on Saturday.
"The return of TAB Everest champion Think About It in the James Squire Canterbury Stakes and clash of Militarize and Celestial Legend in The Agency Randwick Guineas are headline acts on a stellar card," Mr Ross said.
"The UNSW Todman Stakes is one of the strongest renewals in recent history including three of the first four in TAB Golden Slipper markets in the colts division."
Three-time Group 1 winner Militarize for champion trainer and jockey combination Chris Waller and James McDonald is the $2.30 TAB favourite in the $1 million The Agency Randwick Guineas ahead of emerging star Celestial Legend ($4) for Les Bridge and Kerrin McEvoy.
Militarize is one of only two runners (Cosmic Lad) not to have raced last start in the Precise Air Hobartville Stakes – a race which has produced the past 11 winners of the Randwick Guineas.
The beaten favourite in the Hobartville Stakes – Tom Kitten for trainer James Cummings and gun jockey Nash Rawiller – is third favourite on Saturday at $7.
Reigning TAB Everest champion Think About It is the $1.85 out to $1.90 TAB favourite for his return to track in the Group 1 $750,000 James Squire Canterbury Stakes for Warwick Farm trainer Joe Pride and jockey Sam Clipperton.
The $11 million-plus prizemoney earner is shooting for a third career Group 1.
Espiona for Waller and McDonald has been a strongly backed second favourite $4.40-$3.80 as she looks for a second Group 1 win.
Another top sprinter from the Joe Pride stable Private Eye (Nash Rawiller) is the $2.25 TAB favourite in the Group 2 $500,000 Hyland Race Colours Challenge Stakes which has attracted a competitive field and betting market.
Remarque (Hawkes Racing/Tommy Berry) at $4, Aft Cabin (James Cummings/James McDonald) at $4.40 and Passive Aggressive (Grahame Begg/Jordan Childs) $8.50 are all in the market.
The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott team have three gun colts in the Group 2 $300,000 UNSW Todman Stakes, all heading towards the TAB Golden Slipper.
Straight Charge (jockey Tim Clark) at $2.70, Espionage (Nash Rawiller) $4.20 and Shangri La Express (Regan Bayliss) at $9 will aim to keep the stable's domination of two-year-old races continue.
Chris Waller's Switzerland with James McDonald aboard is a $3.90 second favourite. Waterhouse & Bott also have the favourite in the fillies division – the Group 2 $300,000 Yarraman Park Reisling Stakes – in Too Darn Lizzie at $2.80.
