It’s not fairy land, it’s the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival where $37m in prizemoney and 18 Group 1 races makes it ‘one of the strongest and most prestigious racing events of 2022.’
With 48 Black Type races spread over six weeks at Rosehill Gardens and Royal Randwick, it’s the 66th $5m Longines Golden Slipper Stakes of 1200m that’s Sydney’s richest Autumn race.
In highlighting the importance of the Longines Golden Slipper to the racing and breeding industry, a $1m bonus is offered the Slipper winner, who also wins two of the five pathway events.
As the world’s richest 2YO race, it’s Coolangatta as the $3.80 Sportsbet favourite who’s looking to be the world’s richest juvenile with $4m, having also won the Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
In joining Capitalist, Phelan Ready and Dance Hero as the only Golden Slipper and Magic Millions double winners, Coolangatta has also won both the BJ McLachlan and Gimcrack Stakes.
To be again ridden by champion James McDonald from Barrier 14 for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, she’s a $280,000 graduate of the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
In being by the champion sire Written Tycoon, her half-sister by the Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner I’m A Dundeel sells at the Australian Easter Yearling Sale, from Milburn Creek NSW.
With Sydney staging eleven of the World’s Top 100 races rated by the Longines World Racing Awards, it’s the $4m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes that’s Australia’s overall highest rated race.
Staged on Day 2 of The Star Championships at Royal Randwick, and run over 2000m it’s the capable Annabel Neasham who has Zaaki at $6.50, in being the co-World Top Turf ‘Miler+’ on 119.
With the IFHA Ratings being announced for 2022, up to 6 March, Zaaki achieved his rating for a close second in the Blamey Stakes, and is equal to Jet Dark of South Africa for the Queen’s Plate.
In topping the Australian listing for the fourth consecutive year, the Longines $4m Queen Elizabeth Stakes has the $2.5m T J Smith Stakes 1200m on Day 1 as the world’s highest rated sprint.
With the Australian’s dominating Turf Sprinting at the International Federation of Horse Racing, it’s the 2021 equal World’s Best Sprinter Nature Strip who’s $3.50 fav. for the TJ Smith Stakes.
In Nature Strip being rated 119 for a ‘nose’ second in the Black Caviar Lightning, it’s $4 for last year’s second World’s Best Turf Sprinted Eduardo, ahead of Lost and Running at $8 on a 118 WBR.
However, it’s the Coolmore classy 3yo Home Affairs who heads the March WBR Turf Sprint ranking on 120 for his striking victory in the Black Caviar Lightning, and is at $6 for the TJ Smith Stakes.
Already booked into Coolmore Stud on retirement, he’s also won the Coolmore Stud Stakes and Silver Slipper Stakes, having been a $875,000 graduate of the 2020 Easter Yearling Sale.
Purchase by Coolmore principal Tom Magnier in targeting I Am Invincible colts as sires, his winning Flying Spur mare Miss Interiors is half-sister to leading first season sire Russian Revolution.
So, what price for his Dundeel half-brother from Torryburn Stud at the Australian Easter Yearling Sale, with James Herron Bloodstock having purchased his Capitalist half-brother for $1,050,000.
Flemington’s Australia Cup result has opened-up the $1.5m KIA Tancred Stakes of 2400m on Stakes Day with the Edward Cummins trained Duais now at $3 having won the Cup by two length.
However, the World’s Best Racehorse rankings honoured the $4 Tancred pick Think It Over with 118 in the Turf M division of 1301m-1899m, one behind Zaaki, in winning the Apollo Stakes.
With the Australia Cup third Spanish Mission also $3 for the Tancred Stakes, it’s the 2021 Horse of The Year in Verry Elleegant who’s the $2.50 favourite, having been WTR Leading Mare in 2021.
In launching the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival, ATC President Matthew McGrath states ‘this year sees the launch of Where Stories Are Made, an Australian Turf Club initiative which recognised the unique social attraction of a day at the track, when shared experiences on a raceday turn into lifelong memories.’
