February 25, 2016
Sydney will host its first Group 1 of the year on Precise Air Chipping Norton Stakes Day this Saturday, 27 February at Royal Randwick.
Chris Waller-trained Winx leads the field of 12 acceptors in the Group 1 $600,000 Precise Air Chipping Norton Stakes, opening as the short-priced $1.40 TAB Fixed Odds favourite. The four-year-old will be looking for her seventh consecutive win this start. Hartnell ($8.00 TAB Fixed Odds) for John O’Shea is the only other runner in single figures in the betting market.
Support super mare Winx on her road to the Group 1 $4m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the Wink4Winx competition. Upload a picture to Instagram with the tag @atc_races and hashtag #Wink4Winx for the chance to win hospitality for two people to the Moet & Chandon Champagne Bar at Royal Randwick on The Championships Day 2.
Australian Turf Club Chief Operating Officer Tony Partridge encourages sport lovers to be trackside for an exceptional day of racing on Saturday.
“Sydney’s premier Carnival is only a fortnight away which means some of Australia’s best horses will be on show in their campaign toward the Australian Turf Club’s most prestigious races,’’ said Mr Partridge.
“The Club will be handing out 2500 #Wink4Winx paddles to the first patrons through the gate and encourage everyone to show their support for racing’s upcoming superstar of the track.”
TAB have also released a market on whether Winx will be able to maintain her recent undefeated record until the end of the Sydney Autumn Carnival. Punters can get $5.00 for Winx winning every race she contests up until the end of April.
“Winx is $1.40 to win the Precise Air Chipping Norton Stakes on Saturday and is likely to be a similar price in the Ranvet Stakes or George Ryder Stakes (whichever Chris Waller chooses) the following start,” said TAB’s Glenn Munsie.
The juveniles will also be on show in the Group 2 Pro-Ride Skyline Stakes (colts & geldings) and the Group 2 Les Johnson Memorial Sweet Embrace Stakes. Both sprints carry a $175,000 purse, but more importantly, the winner of each race will be exempt from ballot to the Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper.
In the Pro-Ride Skyline Stakes, stablemates from the John O’Shea stable, Telperion ($2.30 TAB Fixed Odds) and Souchez ($3.20 TAB Fixed Odds), are the favoured in a wide open field.
Last start winner Telperion will be guided by the in-form James McDonald, while Godolphin’s international rider William Buick will make the trip to Sydney from Dubai to partner with Souchez, who currently sits at 26 on the Longines Golden Slipper order of entry.
Gai Waterhouse’s undefeated Scarlet Rain ($2.70 TAB Fixed Odds) is the one to beat in the Les Johnson Memorial Sweet Embrace Stakes, having shown resilience in her two runs.
Twist Tops ($4.80 TAB Fixed Odds) for Kris Lees, who is proven over the distance on the Royal Randwick track, looks to be the contender to break Scarlet Rain’s winning streak.
Punters have shown early support for Solicit ($2.50 TAB Fixed Odds) from the Gerald Ryan stable in the Group 2 $175,000 Guy Walter Stakes, following successive second placings from the mare in as many starts.
Peeping ($3.80 TAB Fixed Odds) for Ron Quinton will also be a strong contender over the 1400m. Proven over the distance, the Redoute’s Choice mare fell marginally short in her last run at Royal Randwick on 13 February.
Gates Open at 11.30am with the first race at 12.40pm.
Royal Randwick offers a bus service running from Eddy Avenue directly to the course, with return services later in the day.
For all ticketing, hospitality, racing and general information visit www.theraces.com.au.