August 4, 2016
The Australian Turf Club has again partnered with the Australian Rugby Union to celebrate the start of the Bledisloe Cup Festival which will open with the Bledisloe Cup Festival Race Day at Royal Randwick this Saturday, 6 August.
Rugby royalty will be in attendance at the Racing and Rugby Lunch in the Ballroom, with Wallabies legends Morgan Turinui and Matt Dunning joining Group 1 winning trainer Bjorn Baker as guest speakers.
Racegoers who would like their photograph taken with the prestigious Bledisloe Cup trophy will have the opportunity from 11.30am behind the QEII Grandstand.
Racing’s elite will be honoured with a presentation to the NSW Metropolitan Premiership winning trainer, Chris Waller and apprentice, Rory Hutchings, following the conclusion of Race 3.
Hutchings will also receive the Athol Mulley Trophy for most number of wins for an apprentice at Royal Randwick during the season, which will be presented by a member of the Mulley family.
NSW Metropolitan Premiership winning jockey, James McDonald, will be acknowledged upon his return to Sydney racing on 20 August.
The Australian Turf Club and National Jockey’s Trust will join to recognise former and current jockeys for Jockey Celebration Day. A minute of silence will be conducted at 12.40pm to commemorate fallen jockeys from across Australia.
A selected runner from each of the nine races will also wear the National Jockey’s Trust silks.
Group racing headlines the nine race card with the Group 2 $175,000 Mark Moran Missile Stakes.
Longines Golden Slipper winner Capitalist plans to return to the track for the first time since taking out the world’s richest race for two-year-olds.
Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, Capitalist will have his first up run at weight-for-age with the three-year-old to carry 51.5kg in the race.
Despite not having regular jockey Blake Shinn aboard, the colt has opened as the short priced $1.40 TAB Fixed Odds favourite.
Similarly, fellow Group 1 winner Rebel Dane ($4.60 TAB Fixed Odds), trained by Gary Portelli, will make his return to the track following a three-month spell.
Snowden Racing have entered the $2.10 TAB Fixed Odds favourite, Mediterranean, for the Listed $100,000 Randwick City Council Rosebud in what will be a wide open race.
The Smart Missile colt impressed with a 1.8 length win at Canterbury Park on a Heavy track on 6 July and also produced a good trial run on 29 July at Royal Randwick.
Thronum for the new training partnership of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott has opened on the second line of betting at $3.50 TAB Fixed Odds.
The three-year-old has been successful over the distance over a Heavy Royal Randwick surface.
Adult general admission tickets are available for $15.00 at ticketek.com.au.
Gates Open at 11.00am with the first race at 11.50am.
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.theATC.com.au.