3 minute read
With the Autumn carnival quickly approaching an elite list of Group 1 talent has been nominated to return on Saturday at Randwick.
Headlined by the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m), Saturday's racing at Randwick is sure to be an enthralling spectacle with a host of racing's most exciting athletes nominated to feature across the four Group contests.
Spearheading the glamorous cast of nominees for the Apollo Stakes is Melbourne Cup champion Verry Elleegant.
Having kicked off her Autumn campaign in Saturday's Group 2 feature the previous two years, the 10-time Group 1 winner is likely to return and could be joined by stablemates and multiple Group 1 winners Kolding and Hungry Heart.
Other Group 1 victors nominated to return include Duais, Think It Over and Godolphin pair Cascadian and last year's winner of the race Colette.
Nominated to fly the flag high for the dominant Chris Waller stable in the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) are boom fillies Espiona and Fangirl.
Both having enjoyed impressive starts to their young careers and marked to achieve great heights this campaign, the talented duo lead early markets to take out the three-year-old fillies event.
Other notable nominees who could return include last year's Blue Diamond Prelude winner Arcaded, his fellow Godolphin soldiers Heresy and Larkspur Run, Tea Rose Stakes winner Four Moves Ahead, and outer states prospects Zouzarella (Victoria) and Startantes (Queensland).
As for the Group 3 contests, stablemates Quantico and Lost And Running have been nominated to return for John O'Shea in the Southern Cross Stakes (1200m) and currently sit as first and second elects respectively.
Last start Magic Millions 3YO Guineas victor King Of Sparta shares the second line of betting, with the Waterhouse and Bott-trained Embracer and Ryan and Alexiou-trained Standout the two other runners in single figures.
In the Triscay Stakes (1200m), It's Me has been nominated to return from a long spell and leads the early betting; her last start coming in her successful assault on the 2020 Kosciuszko.
Not far behind in the market sit last month's Magic Millions Fillies and Mares winner Snapdancer, and fellow mares Fituese and Promise Of Success.
With early forecasts predicting rain for the backend of the week, the Randwick surface is currently rated a Soft 7, with the rail out five metres the course entire.
