October 1, 2020
One of Australian racing’s biggest days – TAB Epsom Day at Royal Randwick – continues the Australian Turf Club’s spectacular Everest Carnival this Saturday.
The Group 1 $1 million TAB Epsom, Group 1 $750,000 Heineken Metropolitan and Group 1 $500,000 Darley Flight Stakes bring together some of the nation’s best horses across a range of ages and distances.
The TAB Epsom and Heineken Metropolitan are steeped in Australian racing history – with both races (Epsom first run 1865) and Metropolitan (1863) each carrying more than 150 years of tradition at Royal Randwick.
The program includes a cracking field of sprinters in the Group 2 $500,000 Bisley Workwear Premiere Stakes just a fortnight out from the world’s richest race on the turf, the $15 million TAB Everest at Royal Randwick.
Adding further quality to a nine race card with a healthy 119 entries includes the first Sydney metropolitan two year old races of the season – the Group 3 $160,000 Keeneland Gimcrack Stakes for fillies and Group 3 $160,000 Arrowfield Breeders’ Plate for colts and geldings.
The Group 2 $500,000 Quincy Seltzer Hill Stakes is run at weight for age over 2000m.
Australian Turf Club Executive General Manager of Racing and Wagering James Ross said TAB Epsom Day was one of Sydney’s strongest race meetings all year.
“We are delighted to see capacity fields in both the Group 1 TAB Epsom and Group 1 Heineken Metropolitan which will make for exciting racing and strong wagering events,’’ Mr Ross said.
“The enhanced Sydney spring sprint program continues to get stronger each year and the clash of Nature Strip and Classique Legend amongst another high-class field will further shape the TAB Everest.
“The Darley Flight Stakes could be another major moment in Sydney spring racing history if Dame Giselle can take out all four legs of the Darley Princess Series by winning the Darley Flight Stakes, becoming only the third filly in almost 30 years to take the four legs.’’
The Chris Waller trained and Nash Rawiller ridden Star Of The Seas is the $5 TAB early favourite in the Group 1 $ million TAB Epsom.
Following his third in last year’s TAB Epsom, Star Of The Seas is looking to give jockey Rawiller his first win in the prestigious race.
The capacity field has attracted a wide-open betting race with star Kiwi mare Probabeel for trainer Jamie Richards and jockey Kerrin McEvoy next in TAB betting at $6.
Rock for jockey Tommy Berry, looking for a third consecutive 2020 Everest Carnival Group 1 win, is third pick at $7 TAB for Hawkes Racing.
Glen Boss – the “king” of the Royal Randwick mile with four Epsom trophies alongside his seven Doncaster Mile wins, rides Funstar ($11 TAB) for Chris Waller.
The Group 1 Heineken Metropolitan favourite is imported galloper Mugatoo ($2.70 TAB), trained by Kris Less with jockey Kerrin McEvoy aboard.
The talented stayer has won three races from a spell and has already won six of his eight races in Australia.
Hush Writer for the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable is a $7.50 TAB second pick for jockey Tim Clark, looking for his first Heineken Metropolitan win, a race won by Gai Waterhouse a remarkable seven times.
Bringham Rocks is third pick at $8.50 TAB as trainer Chris Waller and jockey Brenton Avdulla look for consecutive wins in the Heineken Metropolitan.
Star filly Dame Giselle is looking to create another rare piece of Sydney spring history by clean-sweeping the Darley Princess Series in the Group 1 Darley Flight Stakes.
She is a $2.80 TAB second favourite to win a fourth leg – behind her great rival Hungry Heart ($2.30 TAB) for Chris Waller and jockey James McDonald.
Only two champion fillies have won all four legs of the series in the history of the series – Angst (1993) and Samantha Miss (2008).
TAB Everest favourite Nature Strip and popular grey galloper and fellow TAB Everest runner Classique Legend clash in the Group 2 $500,000 Bisley Workwear Premiere Stakes.
Nature Strip is at $1.75 TAB on Saturday for Waller and McDonald, whilst the Les Bridge trained and Kerrin McEvoy ridden Classique Legend is at $3.10.
The Royal Randwick track was rated a Good 4 on Thursday afternoon with warm weather and little rain forecast in coming days.
A video track report with Royal Randwick Racecourse Manager Michael Wood can be viewed below.
For all racing, general and ticketing information go to theraces.com.au