January 31, 2019
The pathway to Australia’s iconic $3.5 million Longines Golden Slipper lights up at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday with two important races for the two-year-old colts/geldings and fillies.
Saturday’s meeting has also attracted a high-class field for the Group 2 $200,000 Expressway Stakes over 1200m, headed in the market by Godolphin’s boom mare Alizee ($1.85 TAB Fixed Odds).
The Group 3 $160,000 Canonbury Stakes for colts and geldings and Group 3 $160,000 Widden Stakes for fillies begins seven consecutive weeks of key two-year-old races ahead of the world’s richest race for two-year-olds at Rosehill Gardens on 23 March.
Mclaren ($1.75 TAB Fixed Odds) from the Peter and Paul Snowden stable is early favourite in the Canonbury Stakes, ahead of Exceed The Stars for Mark Newnham ($3.70 TAB Fixed Odds) and Langiera for James Cummings’ Godolphin team ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds).
In the Widden Stakes for the fillies, Lucicello for Sydney’s champion trainer Chris Waller is $4.20 TAB Fixed Odds favourite in a wide-open betting race, with six of the 10 runners at $7.50 TAB Fixed Odds or under.
Sydney’s premiership leading jockey James McDonald is aboard both favourites in the Canonbury Stakes and Widden Stakes.
Multiple Group 1 winning sprinter Trapeze Artist ($3.80 TAB Fixed Odds) is looking to win consecutive Expressway Stakes at Rosehill Gardens for both trainer Gerald Ryan and jockey Tim Clark.
The field also contains two of Sydney’s favourite gallopers, Le Romain ($4.40 TAB Fixed Odds) and Hartnell ($11 TAB Fixed Odds) who between them alone have almost $11 million prizemoney.
Australian Turf Club Executive General Manager Racing Services and Membership James Heddo said Saturday marked the first of 12 weeks of consecutive Group racing at Rosehill Gardens, Warwick Farm and Royal Randwick.
“Each week brings us closer to the final field for the race every owner, trainer and jockey first dreams of winning, the Longines Golden Slipper,” Mr Heddo said.
“The Expressway Stakes has also drawn together a high-class field of some of Australia’s best horses as they commence their path to greater riches during Sydney autumn racing.”
The Rosehill Gardens track was rated a Good 4 on Thursday morning with cooler weather expected in Sydney tomorrow and on raceday.
A full track report with Rosehill Gardens Racecourse Manager Shaun Patterson is available here:
Zousain (James McDonald) and Sparky Lad (Kerrin McEvoy) will also have an exhibition gallop over 1000m following race one on Saturday.
Rosehill Gardens and all ATC racecourses provide free parking and free high capacity WiFi.
Tickets for Sydney autumn racing are now on sale with discounts of up to 50 per cent for customers who pre-purchase online by January 31.
For all ticketing, racing and general information go to theraces.com.au