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Rosehill Gardens hosts a third week of Australian Turf Club’s Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival this Saturday with the running of the Group 1 $1.5 million KIA Tancred Stakes and Group 1 $500,000 Vinery Stud Stakes.
The KIA Tancred Stakes is Australia's only weight-for-age race run over 2400m and features the clash of star Kiwi mare Melody Belle and Cox Plate champion Sir Dragonet.
The Vinery Stud Stakes over 2000m is one of Australia's most sought-after Group 1 races for the three-year-old fillies – a race won two years ago by the reigning superstar of Australian racing Verry Elleegant, who would also go on to win last year's Tancred Stakes.
Saturday also sees two Group 2 and four Group 3 races as a host of horses across all ages progress on pathway races towards The Star Championships at Royal Randwick on 10 and 17 April.
Australian Turf Club Executive General Manager Racing and Wagering, James Ross said Sydney's world-class racing continued this Saturday off the back of last week's thrilling Longines Golden Slipper meeting.
"This Saturday again sees some of the very best horses from Australia and New Zealand clash on a program packed with Group quality," Mr Ross said. "Melody Belle holds the all-time record of Group 1 wins by a New Zealand galloper and gets the chance to equal Black Caviar'S record of 15 Group 1 wins this Saturday.
"Her clash with Group 1 winners Sir Dragonet, Mirage Dancer and Toffee Tongue in the KIA Tancred Stakes, the largest field in this race in over 10 years, is just one highlight on another very strong card of Carnival racing."
Sir Dragonet holds early favourtism at $4.80 TAB for trainers Ciaron Maher & David Eustace and big-race jockey Glen Boss. Melody Belle is on the second line of betting at $6.50 for champion New Zealand trainer Jamie Richards and jockey James Mcdonald, who is looking to win the race for the third consecutive year.
The Chris Waller-trained Toffee Tongue ($8, jockey Tom Marquand) and Spirit Ridge ($8.50) for trainer Mark Newnham and jockey Robbie Dolan are next in the market in a wide-open market.
Mark Newnham has the early $2.70 favourite Harmony Rose for jockey Josh Parr in the Group 1 $500,000 Vinery Stud Stakes. She comes out of a strong form race after a last-start third in the Randwick Guineas.
VRC Oaks winner Personal is at $5.50 for trainers Tom Dabernig and Ben Hayes and jockey James McDonald, ahead of Hungry Heart ($6) for Chris Waller and jockey Kerrin Mcevoy.
Saturday also sees the running of a number of key Group races – including the Group 2 $200,000 Signace Tulloch Stakes and Group 2 $200,000 Canadian Club Emancipation Stakes. The past four winners of the Tulloch Stakes have gone on to win the Bentley Australian Derby the following week.
The Group 3 $160,000 ACY Securities Doncaster Prelude is also a final chance to qualify for the $3 million The Star Doncaster at Royal Randwick this Saturday.
The Rosehill Gardens track was rated a Soft 5 on Thursday morning but is expected to continue to improve over the coming days with warm forecast weather.
