ROYAL RANDWICK FINISHES CARNIVAL FOR ALL AGES WITH TWO GROUP 1s AND YOUNG STARS

17 April, 2024

The six-week $41 million Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival concludes this Saturday at Royal Randwick with two Group 1 features on a huge card of ten races with 154 final entries.

The Group 1 $1.5 million Schweppes All Aged Stakes and third leg of the two-year-old triple crown the Group 1 $1 million Moët & Chandon Champagne Stakes are among six Group races across the day.

Saturday will also celebrate live on track and up the Royal Randwick home straight the National Pony Racing Finals featuring 20 young riders and horses across two races.

The finals – sponsored by Australian Turf Club partner The Agency and Thoroughbred Industry Careers – bring together finalists from five states.

Australian Turf Club Head of Racing and Wagering James Ross said Saturday’s big fields continued one of the strongest and most exciting Autumn Carnivals in many years.

“The $1.5 million Schweppes All Aged Stakes is consistently one of the highest rating races every Autumn and our 160^th renewal has attracted a very strong field,’’ Mr Ross said.

“Seven horses comprising half the field are already Group 1 winners and collectively the field has won almost $30 million in prizemoney.

“The Moët & Chandon Champagne Stakes has attracted runners via the TAB Golden Slipper, Inglis Sires, Baillieu Quality and the Fernhill Mile winner from last Saturday and could decide the two-year-old of the year.

“ATC is also proud along with TIC to have been at the forefront in developing pony racing in Australian racing and we are pleased to host the first significant national final series at Royal Randwick.

“The atmosphere on course has been outstanding the past two weeks and those at Royal Randwick last week were witness to one of the most spectacular front-running displays ever by Pride Of Jenni in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. ‘’

Full fields for Saturday’s meeting are available here and full TAB Fixed Odds markets for all races are available here.

All tickets purchased at theraces.com.au include travel on all public transport across the NSW transport network.

Multiple Group 1 winner Espiona for trainer and jockey combination Chris Waller and Nash Rawiller opens a $3.60-$3.70 TAB favourite in the $1.5 million Schweppes All Aged Stakes after a luckless last-start sixth in the Furphy TJ Smith Stakes.

Since 2004, 10 winners of the Schweppes All Aged Stakes had a previous start in the TJ Smith Stakes.

Two other previous Group 1 winners – Sunshine in Paris for Annabel Neasham and Ryan Maloney ($6-5.50 TAB) and three-year-old Southport Tycoon for Ciaron Maher and Jamie Kah ($6 TAB) are next in betting.

In the Group 1 $ 1 million Moët & Chandon Champagne Stakes, Inglis Sires winner and filly Manaal trained by Michael Freedman and with Jamie Kah aboard, is a well backed $2.50-$2.30 TAB favourite ahead of the John O’Shea trained Linebacker ($2.70 TAB) for jockey Tommy Berry.

Godolphin’s James Cummings runner Broadsiding – a dominant last start winner of the Fernhill Handicap last Saturday – is a $6.50 TAB third favourite for jockey James McDonald.

Saturday’s program also features for Group 3 races – the $250,000 MostynCopper James H B Carr Stakes, $250,000 Gow-Gates Frank Packer Plate, $250,000 TAB Hall Mark Stakes and $250,000 Toyota Forklifts JRA Plate.

For all racing, ticketing, premium dining and general information on the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival, click here. 

AUSTRALIAN TURF CLUB MEDIA CONTACT:

Brett de Vine

0419 613 455

bdevine@theATC.com.au