While much of the attention will on Victorian Racing this weekend, the final Saturday at Royal Randwick of the Sydney Everest Carnival is set to provide an epic day of racing.
Headlined by the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes and the Group 2 The Invitation, Royal Randwick is likely to be close to capacity on Saturday, following the lockout last weekend.
Saturday’s 10-race card includes the Group 2 $1 million Callander-Presnell named in honour of legendary newspaper and media figures Ken Callander and Max Presnell.
Further features include the Group 3 $750,000 Craven Plate, Listed $1 million Five Diamonds Prelude and Listed $200,000 Brian Crowley Stakes as the $85 million Sydney Everest Carnival continues through October and November.
Australian Turf Club Head of Racing and Wagering Nevesh Ramdhani said the Spring Champion Stakes Day was a worthy rival to Cox Plate Day, which will be run at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
“This is the final Saturday at Royal Randwick of the Spring and in the wake of the Everest gives Sydney another chance to feel the electric atmosphere of a feature raceday,’’ Ramdhani said.
“The Group 1 $2 million Moët & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes and $2 million The Invitation are part of a raceday full of feature races right across the afternoon.
“ATC is again delighted with Racing NSW to honour two media icons in Kenny Callander and Max Presnell who have covered Sydney racing with great distinction in print and across TV and radio for many decades.”
Hawkes Racing and jockey Jay Ford combine on Swiftfalcon ($3.60-$3.40 fav) in the Group 1 $2 million Spring Champion Stakes as the jockey aims for a third win in the race.
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El Castello trained by Anthony Cummings and ridden by Josh Parr ($3.60-$3.90) beat the favourite last start in the Gloaming Stakes.
Filly Harlem Queen for trainer Nathan Doyle and jockey Sam Clipperton ($6) is one of four fillies in the race.
Three of the past eight winners have been fillies.
In the $2 million The Invitation, Chris Waller and jockey Tommy Berry join with Olentia ($3.60) just ahead of another star stablemate Zougotcha with Joao Moreira ($3.80).
The Grahame Begg mare Magic Time for Nash Rawiller is close next in betting at $4.
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