August 6, 2015

Sydney’s first weight for age race of the season – the Group 2 $175,000 McGrath Estate Agents Missile Stakes – fires into action at Royal Randwick this Saturday on a bumper sporting weekend across the harbour city. Royal Randwick hosts Bledisloe Cup Festival Race Day – in partnership with the Australian Rugby Union and Destination NSW – as sporting fans across Australia and New Zealand flock to Sydney this weekend. The Aussies and Kiwis go head to head on the turf at Royal Randwick in the main race this Saturday, ahead of the opening game of the famed Bledisloe Cup at ANZ Stadium later that night.

All ticket holders to the Bledisloe Cup match – and all ANZ Stadium Members – will be admitted free to Royal Randwick this Saturday by showing their ticket or 2015 season pass. The Australian Turf Club will also host a Racing Rugby Luncheon lunch in the ballroom on Level 2 of the Queen Elizabeth II Grandstand, with rugby and racing dignitaries joined throughout the afternoon with special guests, including Sydney’s champion trainer, Kiwi-born Chris Waller, along with Wallaby greats Phil Waugh, Gary Ella and Glen Ella. All general admission and hospitality tickets are available through www.theraces.com.au Trainers Hawkes Racing will fly the flag for the Aussies with the favourite Messene, $2.80 TAB Fixed Odds, in the McGrath Estate Agents Missile Stakes, race 6 at 3.30pm.

Queensland raider Temple of Boom trained by Tony Gollan ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds), the David Pfieffer Warwick Farm trained Lord Leofric ($6.50 TAB Fixed Odds) and the queen of Sydney and Australian racing Gai Waterhouse with Liberty’s Choice ($8.50 TAB Fixed Odds) join the local charge. But proud Kiwis – trainers Chris Waller with Weary ($4.60 TAB Fixed Odds) and Bjorn Baker’s Burbero ($7 TAB Fixed Odds) and Zaratone ($15 TAB Fixed Odds) – will be out to claim early points for New Zealand. TAB.com.au has opened special markets on its “Racing Extras’’ page, with a Waller/Baker runner to win the McGrath Estate Agents Missile Stakes at $2.50, and the any other trainer bracket at $1.50.

The Listed $100,000 The Rosebud, the first major lead-up to Sydney’s first Group 1 of the season the $1 million De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose, features another Team Hawkes favourite in Rageese ($2.80 TAB Fixed Odds). Two in-form Sydney stables – Gary Portelli’s Sebring Sun ($4.60 TAB Fixed Odds) and Ron Quinton’s Let’s Make It Rain ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds) – will be out to further climb the prizemoney order of entry for the De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose, to be run at Rosehill Gardens on 12 September. TAB.com.au has added extra spice to The Rosebud, offering doubles with Rageese to win on the track, into the Bledisloe Cup game on Saturday night. Rageese / All Blacks ($4.10) and Rageese/Wallabies ($7.70) offer the value, ahead of any other horse/All Blacks ($2.00) or any other horse/ Wallabies ($3.80).

Saturday at Royal Randwick also sees the ATC’s popular winter discounts continue, with the Super Saver Ticket offering $45 value for just over $20, including a general admission ticket, racebook, a Vili’s Pie and standard drink voucher, and another entry ticket to a future Sydney Saturday meeting before the end of August. The ATC will also present the Athol Mulley Trophy to Sydney’s champion apprentice for the 2014/15 season, Winona Costin. The Athol Mulley Trophy recognises the most number of wins by an apprentice at Royal Randwick for the season. Tabcorp will also present a cheque for $50,000 at Royal Randwick on Saturday to the National Jockeys Trust.

Australian Turf Club Head of Commercial Rohan Sawyer said the Bledisloe Cup Festival Race Day provides Sydneysiders as well as interstate and overseas visitors a big weekend of Sydney sport. “Racing and rugby fans can warm up at Royal Randwick for the big match and we are very pleased to partner with the ARU and Destination NSW to grow this race day to showcase the very best Sydney had to offer,’’ Mr Sawyer said. ATC Members have access to The Stables on Level 4 of the Queen II Grandstand throughout the day and after the last race.

Royal Randwick offers free parking, as well as bus services to and from Central Station to the course throughout the day. A dedicated taxi rank operates from the Ascot St side of the course.

For all ticketing, hospitality, racing and general information go to www.theraces.com.au

Photo: Bradley Photos