A field of eight has been declared for the $600,000 Randwick Guineas, the first leg of a Sydney autumn triple crown series for three-year-olds.
It will be the smallest Guineas field since the race’s inception in 2006 but it includes Hallowed Crown and Shooting To Win, Group One winners rated as benchmark three-year-olds up to 1600m.
Hallowed Crown, winner of the Golden Rose during the spring and the Hobartville Stakes when first-up, has drawn the rails with Caulfield Guineas winner Shooting To Win drawn directly on his outside.
Less than a half length separated the two stars in the Hobartville when Shooting To Win finished fourth.
Trainer Chris Waller has accepted with Victoria Derby winner Preferment as well as Kermadec but the latter is expected to run in the Australian Guineas at Flemington.
Nine horses have accepted for the Canterbury Stakes with Catkins drawn favourably in barrier three as she tries to break through at Group One level.
Golden Slipper favourite Headwater has four rivals in the Todman Stakes and the Silver Slipper winner will start from the outside gate with Gai Waterhouse’s unbeaten Vancouver to jump from barrier three.
Last year’s Golden Slipper winner Mossfun is a dual acceptor after Hawkes Racing paid up for the Challenge Stakes and the Fireball Stakes.
The Randwick track was rated in the good range at acceptance time after 4mm of irrigation on Tuesday.
