A clash of many of Australia’s best horses across four Group races headlines Apollo Stakes Day at Royal Randwick this Saturday on the cusp of the official start of the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.
Multiple Group 1 winners Via Sistina, Ceolwulf, Fangirl and Atishu are part of a cracking line-up in the Group 2 $300,000 Petaluma Apollo Stakes.
The field collectively has earned almost $35 million prizemoney.
The Group 2 $300,000 TAB Light Fingers Stakes features the cream of Australia’s best three-year-old fillies including TAB Golden Slipper champion Lady Of Camelot and Group 1 winners Manaal and Lady Shenandoah in the 15-horse field.
Star Chris Waller trained mares Joliestar and Olentia head TAB markets with Magic Time (Grahame Begg/Jordan Childs) in the Group 2 $300,000 Asahi Super Dry Expressway Stakes while Saturday’s 10-race card adds another feature in the Group 3 $250,000 Robrick Lodge Triscay Stakes.
Australian Turf Club Head of Racing and Wagering Nevesh Ramdhani said Saturday’s meeting was part of several months of world-class Group racing.
“A number of Australian racing’s best horses will race at Royal Randwick on Saturday as we start to see Autumn campaigns hit full stride,’’ Mr Ramdhani said.
“The clash of Via Sistina and Ceolwulf against other star gallopers in the Petaluma Apollo Stakes will be a major highlight on a card of high-quality Group racing.’’
Full fields for Royal Randwick this Saturday are available here and full TAB markets for all races here.
Via Sistina for Chris Waller and jockey Kerrin McEvoy opens a well-backed $2.40-$2.15 early favourite ahead of Ceolwulf ($3.20-$3.40) for Joe Pride and Chad Schofield.
Via Sistina is a four-time winner first up and has won five of her seven starts in Australia while Ceowulf returns from a major Royal Randwick Group 1 double in the TAB Epsom and King Charles III Stakes.
Fangirl ($4 TAB) for Chris Waller and Jason Collett is looking to join the immortal Winx and champion mare Sunline as the only horses to win back-to-back Apollo Stakes this century.
Joliestar (Waller/McEvoy) a first-up winner in 3 of 4 campaigns is a $2.50-$2.60 opening favourite in the Asahi Dry Expressway Stakes ahead of Magic Time, strongly supported from $3.60-$3.10 TAB.
Olentia with Jason Collett aboard has drifted from $3.60-$4 TAB.
Lady Shenandoah (Chris Waller) at $3.20 TAB and Gai Waterhouse Adrian Bott trained defending Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camlet ($3.50 Tim Clark) open at the top of betting in the TAB Light Fingers Stakes.
Manaal for Michael Freedman and Jason Collett has been heavily backed early from $6 to $4.20 TAB with the next in betting Declichy Boulevard at $13 TAB.
Sixteen of the past 20 winners of the race have started in the top four of betting.
The Group 3 $250,000 Robrick Lodge Triscay Stakes sees the unbeaten Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich Clearly Thinking open a well-backed early favourite ($4.40-$3.60) for jockey Zac Lloyd.
For all racing, ticketing and general information visit www.theraces.com.au
AUSTRALIAN TURF CLUB MEDIA CONTACT:
Brett de Vine
0419 613 455