On the eve of the NRL Grand Final in Sydney, ticketholders to that game will be given free entry to Royal Randwick on Saturday by simply showing their official Grand Final ticket at the gates.
Just two weeks from the $20 million TAB Everest, Saturday also sees the Group 2 $1 million Precise Air Premiere Stakes including several horses hoping to gain final slots in the Royal Randwick showpiece on 19 October.
The bumper card also sees the first races for two-year-olds ultimately aiming for the iconic Golden Slipper: the Group 3 $250,000 Keeneland Gimcrack Stakes and Group 3 $250,000 Arrowfield Breeders’ Plate.
Australian Turf Club Executive General Manager Racing and Wagering Nevesh Ramdhani said TAB Epsom Day continued a tradition at Royal Randwick over the long weekend.
“TAB Epsom Day with three Group 1s, TAB Everest contenders and the first two-year-old races of the season is one of the best cards all year,’’ Mr Ramdhani said.
“Three time-honoured Group 1 races are joined by a crucial pathway and final lead up to the $20 million TAB Everest along with important breed-shaping juvenile races in the Arrowfield Breeders Stakes and Keeneland Gimcrack Stakes.’’
Full fields for Royal Randwick can be found here and full TAB Markets for all 10 races here.
The 159th renewal of the $1.5 million TAB Epsom has attracted a capacity field and wide-open betting heading in TAB Fixed Odds markets by the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Royal Patronage ($5 TAB) for jockey Tim Clark.
Gai Waterhouse jointly holds the record for most wins as a trainer (seven) with her legendary father TJ Smith and the stable also has Major Beel in the race ($13 TAB) with Winona Costin to ride.
Sydney’s 14-time premiership winning trainer Chris Waller – with seven entries in Saturday’s field – is looking to train his sixth TAB Epsom winner.
He has Kovalica ($6 TAB James McDonald), Democracy Manifest ($13 TAB Kerrin McEvoy) and reigning TAB Epsom champion Rediener ($26 TAB) amongst his runners.
Joe Pride’s Ceolwulf is a joint $6 TAB second favourite for jockey Chad Schofield as the Warwick Farm trainer looks to win a second TAB Epsom.
Royal Randwick’s iconic trainer Gai Waterhouse also holds the record for the most winners of in the Group 1 $750,000 James Squire Metropolitan with nine victories.
Chris Waller has eight entries (three emergencies) in a wide-open betting market in the 161st running of the James Squire Metropolitan, headed by $6-$6.50 TAB chance Land Legend for jockey Reece Jones.
The stable also has another three horses high in betting – First Light ($9 TAB Mark Du Plessis), emergency runner Unusual Legacy ($8 TAB) and Etna Rosso ($9-$9.50 TAB Kerrin McEvoy).
As Waller Racing looks to win the race for a sixth time, Waterhouse and Bott with two runners would secure a tenth win for Tulloch Lodge.
They saddle up Serpentine ($11 -$10 TAB Tim Clark) and Military Mission ($26 TAB Regan Bayliss).
In the Group 1 Darley Flight Stakes, boom unbeaten filly Autumn Glow (Waller and McDonald) is a heavily backed $1.60-$1.50 TAB favourite.
Saturday’s Group 2 $1 million Precise Air Premiere Stakes could also provide further runners in the $20 million TAB Everest with two former winners aiming to again run in the world’s richest race on turf.
Giga Kick for Clayton Douglas and James McDonald – a winner of the TAB Everest in 2022 and looking for a slot – opens a $2.40 favourite on Saturday ahead of confirmed TAB Everest runner Bella Nipotina for Ciaron Maher and Craig Williams ($2.90 TAB).
Reigning TAB Everest champion Think About it – also looking for a slot – is next at $4.20 for trainer Joe Pride and jockey Jason Collett.
For all racing and ticketing information go to theraces.com.au.
AUSTRALIAN TURF CLUB MEDIA CONTACT:
Brett de Vine
0419 613 455