The Invitation highlights the Sydney spring

Yes, the $2m The Invitation is to be run on Saturday 23 October, City Tattersalls Club Cup Day at Royal Randwick, and is a definite boost to the new look $48m Sydney Everest Carnival.

“The Invitation fits our need for a higher profile middle-distance Fillies and Mares event in the Sydney Spring,” said Peter Downs. General Manager Racing Services of the Australian Turf Club.

“A 1400m set weight with penalties event, it’s for Fillies and Mares 3YO & Up with $2m prizemoney, and sits between the $15m TAB Everest on 16 October and the $5m XXXX Golden Eagle.”

“Ideally suited on City Tattersalls Cup Day, it boosts one of our most historical race days, and joins the Cup itself, the second running of the $1m Bondi Stakes, and the Brian Crowley Stakes.”

“In addition, it supplements the Hot Danish Stakes of 1400m on Saturday 6 November, also for 3YO+ F&M at set weights with penalties, and is preceded by The Nivison of 1200m on 9 October.”

The Invitation will have a field 12 starters, invited by a Racing NSW convened panel with invitations extended to fillies and mares from across Australia and New Zealand.

“The Everest Carnival prizemoney has now risen to a record $48.3m, that’s up $4.8m from last year, and over the 80 carnival races, an amazing $600,000 plus per race,” said Peter Downs.

“The George Main Stakes is up $500,000 in prize money to $1m, the 100th running of the Hill Stakes also up to $1m, the Flight Stakes now $750,000 and The Everest capped at $15m.”

“It’s The TAB Everest that always rate very well in attracting our best sprinters who are now the world’s best, with Nature Strip being the current highest World Thoroughbred Ranked Sprinter.”

“I’m looking forward to Nature Strip running, and as ‘winning form is good form’ Classique Legend returns from Hong Kong as the 2020 WTR Top Sprinter in winning last year’s Everest.”

“John O’Shea has the inform Lost and Running, the Hawkes won the William Reid Stakes with Masked Crusader and Joseph Pride has his Galaxy and Doomben 10,000 winner Eduardo back.”

“For myself, the TAB Epsom Day is my favourite Spring raceday, with the TAB Epsom, Heineken 3 Metropolitan and Darley Flight Stakes all being Group 1 races, and the Hill Stakes now $1m.”

“The Premier Stakes for sprinters at weight-for-age leads into The Everest and Sydney Stakes, while the 2yo season begins with the Arrowfield Breeders and Keenland Gimcrack Stakes.”

“I expect the Golden Rose to have a top-class field as we had exceptional 2yo’s, and being a $1m race it’s well supported by the Run to The Rose, with Paulele already winning The Rosebud.”

“The Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside and all major 2yo winners are going onto be 3yo’s, and two weeks later it’s the $1m Spring Champion Stakes, Stan Fox Stakes and Roman Consul Stakes.”

“With $1.3m in prizemoney The Kosciuszko of 1200m on TAB Everest Day is the country Spring racing highlight, in being highly competitive with state wide support and healthy wagering.”

“In fact, the newly introduced Midway Handicap and with the Highway Handicaps at $100,000, they have greatly contributed to our highly competitive metropolitan racing and higher wagering.”

The Darley Princess Series is a highlight with the Mystery Downs partnership owned Swift Witness winning the Silver Shadow Stakes, and a nomination to unbeaten champion 2yo Earthlight.

Owners can choose a 2021 or 2022 mating to a nominated Darley stallion, and it’s Jamaea owned by the Noble family, who have highest ranked 2020 racehorse Ghaiyyath for the Furious Stakes.

The Darley Tea Rose Stakes follows on 18 September with a nomination to champion 2yo Microphone, and on 2 October the Darley Flight Stakes of 1600m for the Royal Ascot sprinter Blue Point.

It’s both Jamaea and Swift Witness won lead the Darley Princess Series on seven points each, with the overall winning filly earning a nomination to a selected Darley stallion in the year she retires.