December 24, 2020

Boxing Day at Royal Randwick this Saturday begins a busy schedule of racedays at Australian Turf Club tracks in coming weeks as Sydney celebrates the Christmas and New Year period.

The Group 3 $160,000 Heineken Summer Cup is the feature event on a nine-race card at Royal Randwick on Saturday – a meeting which has attracted 127 entries.

In a competitive betting race, the Mark Newnham trained pair Spirit Ridge ($3.90 TAB and jockey Robbie Dolan) and popular grey mare Greysful Glamour ($4.60 TAB Rachel King) are at the top of markets.

They are joined by Laure Me In ($4.60 TAB) trained by David Pfieffer and to be ridden by Tommy Berry.

Best of Days from the James Cummings Godolphin team ($8.50 TAB) with jockey Hugh Bowman and Wolfe ($9 TAB) for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and jockey Sam Clipperton are next in betting.

Following the latest NSW Government Public Health Orders, the Australian Turf Club has refunded all pre-purchased General Admission tickets for Saturday’s raceday.

ATC Members and owners with runners this Saturday will be permitted to attend but under tightened COVID-safe protocols.

The Australian Turf Club has offered those general admission patrons who had purchased tickets for this Saturday to pre-purchase for Saturday 9 January, where it is hoped the Boxing Day entertainment will be safely permitted.

Information on this and all other racedays included updated health advice and COVID-safe measures will be at TheRaces.com.au

Following this Saturday, the Australian Turf Club will host a variety of racedays into the New Year. These include:

– A feature Kia Friday Night Racing meeting at Canterbury Park on New Year’s Day, with free entry and family entertainment and the running of the Listed $150,000 Canterbury Classic;
– On Saturday 2 January, a nine-race card at Royal Randwick on the Kensington track;
– On Wednesday 6 January free entry to Warwick Farm followed by another Kia Friday Night Racing meeting at Canterbury Park on 8 January;
– The running of the Listed $150,000 January Cup at Royal Randwick on Saturday 9 January followed by a return to Saturday racing at Rosehill Gardens on 16 January.

Australian Turf Club Executive General Manager Racing and Wagering James Ross said: “Following the tradition of Boxing Day at Royal Randwick, we look forward to hosting several meetings in coming weeks including the return of a feature black-type race – the Listed Canterbury Classic, at Canterbury Park on New Year’s Day.

“Our strong programming of weekly two-year-old races continues as we also head towards the first Group races for the juveniles on a pathway to the Longines Golden Slipper with the Widden Stakes and Canonbury Stakes at the end of January.”

The Royal Randwick track was rated a Soft 5 on Thursday morning with a track report recorded with Racecourse Manager Michael Wood available here:

For all racing, ticketing and general information for all upcoming Australian Turf Club racedays go to TheRaces.com.au