March 7, 2019
Sydney’s superstar colt against the boom filly; two crucial qualifying races for the world’s richest race for two-year-olds; the reigning Longines Golden Slipper champion taking on the dual Everest winner; and a crack field of Group 1 sprinters.
These are just some of the highlights on Mostyn Copper Randwick Guineas Day this Saturday at Royal Randwick on a nine-race card full of stars.
The Chris Waller trained The Autumn Sun – Australian racing’s heir apparent to the mighty mare Winx – is a hot $1.50 TAB favourite in the Group 1 $1 million Mostyn Copper Randwick Guineas.
Amongst his rivals is the filly Nakeeta Jane ($6 TAB), trained by Mark Newnham, aiming for a second Group 1 win at only her sixth start.
The Group 2 $300,000 UNSW Todman Stakes has attracted one of the strongest two-year-old fields this year, with the winner assured of a start in the $3.5 million Longines Golden Slipper.
Time To Reign, a half-brother to former Longines Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign for trainer Gary Portelli, is $3.20 TAB favourite ahead of a host of class colts in Yes Yes Yes (4.40 TAB), Dubious ($6.50 TAB) and Bellevue Hill ($7.50 TAB), trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
The Group 2 $300,000 Astus Australia Reisling Stakes for the fillies features two of James Cummings’ powerful Godolphin stable of youngsters in Exhilarates ($3.10 TAB) and Tenley ($3.90) as the “Blue Army” looks to further strengthen its team for the Longines Golden Slipper.
Cummings already has the top three chances in the TAB market for the Longines Golden Slipper, to be run at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday 23 March.
The dual TAB Everest winner Redzel returns to racing this Saturday for trainers Peter and Paul Snowden and jockey Kerrin McEvoy as a $1.70 TAB favourite in the Group 2 $500,000 Hyland Race Colours Challenge Stakes.
In another high-class field, last year’s Longines Golden Slipper winner Estijaab is a $3.40 TAB chance to add to her imposing race record of three wins and two seconds from just five starts.
That race will be followed by the Group 1 $500,000 Canterbury League Club Stakes, a field full of some of Australia’s best sprinters.
Trapeze Artist for trainer Gerald Ryan and in-form jockey Blake Shinn is the early $2.90 TAB favourite, ahead of Godolphin’s colt Kementari ($4.20 TAB), and Warwick Farm trainer Greg Hickman’s star four-year-old Pierata, ridden by Tommy Berry.
Collectively, the field has won almost $17 million in prizemoney.
Australian Turf Club Executive General Manager Racing Services and Membership James Heddo said Saturday’s card was filled with some of Australia’s best and most promising horses.
“We are thrilled with the depth of Saturday’s meeting as we continue towards the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival and some of the most sought-after trophies in world racing,” Mr Heddo said.
“We are only a few weeks away from the race every owner, trainer and jockey first dreams of winning – the Longines Golden Slipper, and tickets to this day are selling fast with the added prospect of Winx having her home track farewell run.”
The Royal Randwick track was rated a Good 4 on Thursday morning, with further details available in a video with Track Manager Nevesh Ramdhani here:
Royal Randwick and all ATC racecourses provide free parking and free high capacity WiFi.
For all ticketing, racing and general information including discounts for Sydney Autumn Racing race days at Royal Randwick and Rosehill Gardens visit theraces.com.au