April 7, 2016
Royal Randwick will be showcased in its grandeur this Saturday, 9 April for The Championships Day 2 – Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes Day.
The entertainment will be first-class on the turf with four Group 1 races headlining the day, and will continue well after the last race off the track with a live performance by Guy Sebastian in the Theatre of the Horse.
A prize pool of more than $75,000 will be on offer to fashionable racegoers who enter the Myer Fashions on the Field competition. The competition will be judged by some of Australia’s most stylish people including ATC ambassadors Isabelle Cornish and Grace Huang as well as Myer ambassadors Jodi Anasta and Kris Smith.
Entrants in the Myer Fashions on the Field competition will also be in contention for the Longines Prize for Elegance. Presented by Longines Ambassador and Bollywood super-star, Aishwarya Rai, the winner will be decided on the use of colour and materials that demonstrate a strong understanding of design, keen eye for detail and style to stand the test of time.
Food lovers can sample the tastes of Bondi Beach at the Little Bondi marquee on the Leger Lawn. The newest addition to the food offering at Royal Randwick will consist of favourites from Icebergs, Da Orazio Pizza + Porchetta and The Bucket List.
Sydney’s social crowd will flock to Little Sydney for the culinary delights of iconic Sydney restaurants; China Doll, CHISWICK and Icebergs. The delicate grazing menu designed specifically for race day patrons will match the fine theming the eateries are set in.
The Clinique Pamper Lounge will be on hand for complimentary makeup touch ups, while Members can enjoy freshly shucked oysters at the ‘Get Shucked’ Oyster Bar ‘located next to the Veuve Cliquot airstream behind the Officials Stand.
Tommy Berry currently leads the points tally for the Nathan Berry Medal for the best jockey during The Championships series and will be able to further increase that lead when he takes the ride on Criterion ($6.00 TAB Fixed Odds) in the world’s richest turf race over 2000m, the Group 1 $4 million Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
The five-year-old is the only horse to have won a race in each year of The Championships and will be after back-to-back wins in the weight-for-age contest in what will be the entire’s final race before retiring to a stud career.
Robert Hickmott-trained The United States is the current $4.60 TAB Fixed Odds favourite following his win in in the Ranvet Stakes over the 2000m distance.
Preferment for Chris Waller has also been given support and sits on the second line of betting at $5.00 TAB Fixed Odds. The son of Zabeel has been successful over the distance on three occasions including the Australian Cup on 12 March.
Punters cannot split stablemates Who Shot Thebarman and Libran in the Group 1 $2 million Schweppes Sydney Cup. Both have opened as joint $3.50 TAB Fixed Odds favourites in a wide-open race.
Last year’s Sydney Cup victor, also from the Chris Waller stable, Grand Marshall, will also contest the 3200m event. Grand Marshall finished third behind Preferment and Who Shot Thebarman in The BMW a fortnight ago, however will only be carrying 55kg this start.
Public gates will open at 10.30am with the first race at 11.30am.
Royal Randwick has free high-capacity WiFi across the racecourse precinct.
There is free public parking in the infield from the High Street entrance.
A direct free bus service will be in operation to and from Central Station.