Rosehill Gardens Bathed In Pink As Six-Week Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival Launches

11 March, 2026

The Group 1 $1 million Coolmore Classic and two final qualifying races for the iconic Group 1 $5 million TAB Golden Slipper feature at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday as the Australian Turf Club launches the 2026 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.

The $46.2 million Sydney Autumn Carnival starts with Chandon Ladies Day and includes the seventh annual Pink Fashion Lunch hosted with the Sydney Breast Cancer Foundation.

Australia’s most coveted race for fillies and mares the Group 1 $1 million Coolmore Classic begins six Saturdays of world-class Group 1 racing and entertainment at Rosehill Gardens and Royal Randwick.

The Group 3 $250,000 TAB Pago Pago Stakes for the colts and geldings and Group 3 $250,000 Tresemmé Magic Night Stakes for fillies are final lead-ups for the following Saturday’s stellar event, the Group 1 $5 million TAB Golden Slipper.

Australian Turf Club Interim CEO Steve McMahon said this year’s Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival was shaping as the strongest in recent history.

“We have already watched on track these past weeks exhilarating racing and it will only get bigger and more exciting over the next six weeks,’’ Mr McMahon said.

“Enjoying a day trackside with family and friends is a Sydney tradition and it rises further in atmosphere and entertainment during these Carnival periods.

“We are delighted to again partner this year with the Sydney Breast Cancer Foundation to raise funds and awareness with the ATC Foundation in a sea of pink across the course, and we encourage everyone to wear their own shade of pink on the day.

“Saturday is just the start as we look forward to Australia’s biggest day of Group 1 racing, TAB Golden Slipper Day, and the added attraction of the next start of the rising superstar of racing in Autumn Glow.’’

Full fields for the ten races at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday are available here and full TAB Fixed Odds markets for all races are here.

In a wide-open betting market, Lazzura for the champion Chris Waller and James McDonald combination opens a $5 TAB favourite in the Group 1 $1 million Coolmore Classic, jointly with Savvy Hallie ($% TAB) for trainer Brad Widdup and jockey Nash Rawiller.

Trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman will be looking for consecutive Sydney Saturday Group 1 wins with Ole Dancer ($6 TAB) and Zac Lloyd aboard.

Only four favourites have won the race since 2006.

In the Group 3 $250,000 TAB Pago Pago Stakes, Chris Waller and James McDonald combine again with Central Europe ($2.50 TAB) as the Frankel colt aims to break into the TAB Golden Slipper field.

Warwoven – also looking to cement a TAB Golden Slipper start – is a close second favourite ($2.60 TAB) for Bjorn Baker and Rachel King.

The Group 3 $250,000 Tresemmé Magic Night Stakes sees another James McDonald favourite in Pembrey – for trainer Tony Gollan – open at $2.70 TAB ahead of the Golden Slipper-record training combination of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott with their filly By Choice ($6 TAB).

The Group 2 $300,000 Chandon Phar Lap Stakes, Group 2 $300,000 Hyland Race Colours Ajax Stakes, Group 3 $350,000 Asahi Super Dry Sky High Stakes and Group 3 $250,000 Toyota Forklifts Maurice McCarten Stakes add further Group and Blacktype to the meeting.

For all ticketing, racing and general information including details of all upcoming racedays across the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival go to theraces.com.au.

AUSTRALIAN TURF CLUB MEDIA CONTACT:

Brett de Vine

0419 613 455

bdevine@theATC.com.au