The big race of the day that will be drawing the crowds and punters is the $100 000 Listed Australia Day Cup (2400m).

A star studded field of nine are engaged in the event, including the Gai Waterhouse-trained Rabbuka and Anthony Cummings’ Zavite.

Six-year-old Rabbuka is coming off a brilliant win ahead of Spinney in the Frank Underwood Cup at Rosehill a fortnight ago. The Giant’s Causeway gelding has drawn barrier five and will be ridden by Blake Shinn who was onboard for his Underwood Cup victory.

Rabbuka is also the top weighted horse in the Australia Day Cup, carrying 59.5kg. His only concern will be the step up in distance to 2400m as he has never won at a distance greater than 2000m in his eight career wins.

Zavite, carrying the second heaviest weight of 59kg, has drawn the far outside barrier nine, the experienced seven-year-old winner of the Group 2 Ajax Stakes will have in-form hoop Glyn Schofield riding him on Tuesday.

Top training team Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes have their five-year-old Zabeel gelding, Rainbow Styling entered in the race. Rainbow Styling will be ridden by Jim Cassidy, has won his past two starts and will start from barrier six.

Currently sitting second on the NSW Metropolitan Trainers Premiership board, leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller will be represented in the Australia Day Cup by his runner Come On Cugat, drawn ideally in barrier three.

The lightweights of the field all carrying 53kg are the Peter Moody-trained Fairygem (br.2), Brave Lancer (br.7), Just Jammin (br.8) and Karim gaining the inside running with barrier one.

The Australia Day Cup will run as race five on the day’s super eight-race programme.

2010 Australia Day Cup Final Field & Barrier Draw:

The Cummings-trained Griffon made a sensational comeback to the track after being out of action for over a year, claiming victory in what was just his second career start.

Installed as the $3.20 favourite, four-year-old Griffon defeated El Zegri ($20) by an easy three lengths with the Neville Voigt-trained Business Plan just half a head back for third.

Ridden by Glyn Schofield, Griffon had a mediocre start in the 1100m sprint but impressed all when he pulled out a startling burst of acceleration on the home straight to fly home ahead of his rivals.

The $4 second elect, Atomic Force had a disappointing run and only managed to finish seventh.

The son of Flying Spur, Griffon made his debut back in October 2008 when he ran third to the Peter Snowden-trained Pinwheel at Canterbury. Since then he has shown promise but suffered a few problems.

Cummings’ patience looks finally to be paying off however as not only did Griffon win, but he set the course record time in doing so, a blistering 1:02.20.

Griffon is now likely to be aimed at the local Saturday stakes races as Cummings attempts to build up another star.

The next Randwick race meeting is on Australia Day, Tuesday 26^th.

2010 Festival Of Sydney Handicap Results:

Keshi ($4.60) took out the second race of the day, the Oncidon Handicap (1100m) a length ahead of the Gai Waterhouse-trained Tell Tale ($16) with Dublette a short neck back for third.

Snowden now leads with 39 wins ahead of Waller with 37. Waterhouse is still in contention sitting in third with 32 wins.

Snowden’s success did not stop there however, he also went on to train third-placegetter in race four, Shameless, who came in 1 ¾ lengths behind the winner Trauma before taking out the final race of the meeting with Brasileira.

The favourite at $4.20, Brasileira crossed the line first ¾ of a length ahead of Brisk Crown with the Anthony Cummings-trained Togha in third.

Chris Waller did have some success on the day, taking out the opening race at the Randwick meeting.

It was a fast finishing and entertaining start to the day as Waller’s Key West ($16) defeated the Gai Waterhouse-trained Samui Lad ($12) by a mere short half head with the favourite at $1.40, St Augustine, coming in a long head back for third.

He also placed second with Needwood Lad in the sixth race, 2 ½ lengths behind the David Payne-trained Buccaneers Prize.

The most anticipated event of the meeting that currently has betting markets open is race five, the Festival Of Sydney Handicap (1100m). Two horses are battling for favouritism, Atomic Force and the Bart Cummings-trained Griffon both installed as the $4.20 equal favourite.

Prolific Sydney trainer, Chris Waller, who is currently leading the Sydney Trainers Premiership competition has a number of his horses entered on Wednesday including Key West in race one, Dee Lilly in race two, El Cairo in race four and Needwood Lad in race six.

Peter Snowden and Gai Waterhouse follow Waller on the Premiership leader board, both having ample opportunity at Wednesday’s meeting to close in on the lead.

Snowden has Keshi and Athenienne in race two, Shameless in race four and Brasileira in race seven.

Waterhouse will be represented at the fixture with Samui Lad in race one and Tell Tale in race two.

Below is the list of races that are due to run at the meeting.

Royal Randwick Race Programme – Wednesday 20 January 2010:

It was a successful day for local trainer Gai Waterhouse, who began by taking out the first race of the meeting, the Randwick Betting Auditorium Handicap, with her improving stayer Lorne Dancer. Lorne Dancer ($3.20) defeated the Chris Waller-trained Vintedge ($6) by a length with Peter Snowden’s Pinatas ($12) in third. The favourite at $2.50 heading into the race, Informality, could only manage fourth.

The winning horse was ridden by heavyweight apprentice Kody Nestor, in his first ride for Waterhouse after being transferred to the stable two months ago. It was only the second start for five-year-old Lorne Dancer following a 12 month spell for a slab fracture to his knee.

Waterhouse missed out on the second race of the meeting, the Mahogany Handicap, as her starter Judicial, second favourite at $4, finished a disappointing sixth behind the David Payne-trained winner Magic Model ($7.50). Magic Model beat home the $2.20 favourite Killian by two lengths with Movie in third. Magic Model will now be aimed at the lucrative fillies races in the Autumn following her impressive victory at Randwick on Saturday.

Waterhouse was back on track in race three, the Autumn Carnival Package on Sale Now Handicap, seeing her second victory of the day with her long-shot Zutara ($20), who won on debut in an intense and controversial race. Two-year-old Zutara was awarded the race after an initial dead heat with Third Man following a protest by Zutara’s jockey Joshua Parr and Brenton Avdulla, who was aboard Ilovethiscity, against Third Man’s rider Berry for interference. The final result was Zutara in first, Ilovethiscity ($5) second and Third Man ($11) demoted to third.

The premier trainer backed up with a second placing in race five, the Naturalism Handicap, as Waterhouse’s Kinnersley ($2.80 favourite) finished a half-length behind Brother Patrick ($3.30) with the Peter Snowden-trained Daytona Beach ($8) in third.

Waterhouse’s final major placing of the day came in race seven, the Octagonal Handicap, with runner-up Princess Quality ($2.45 favourite), who finished two lengths behind the Peter Snowden-trained Clothing ($5) with Visa Lisa ($13) in third.

The next race meeting at Randwick is scheduled for Wednesday January 20.

Randwick Racecourse Race Results – Saturday January 9:

Prolific trainer Gai Waterhouse has a few handy gallopers competing at Randwick on Saturday, including her strong stayer Lorne Dancer in the opening race, the Randwick Betting Auditorium Handicap (1600m). Lorne Dancer is currently second favourite at $3.20 behind the John O’Shea-trained Informality at $2.70.

Waterhouse’s other strong chance at the meeting is with three-year-old Kinnersley in race five, the Naturalism Handicap (1600m). Kinnersley is the clear favourite in the betting markets at $3.40 following his sensational win at the same track on New Year’s Day, and will start from barrier four.

Judicial in race two, the Mahogany Handicap (1200m) is the other last-start victor for Waterhouse backing up on Saturday. Judicial is currently second favourite at $3.50 behind the Peter Snowden-trained Killian at $2.50.

Talented jockey Hugh Bowman has picked up the rides for the Waterhouse at Randwick, following the stable’s two other star riders, Nash Rawiller and Blake Shinn, both engaged at the Gold Coast Magic Millions this weekend.

Bowman will also mount two-year-old Spot The Rock in his debut in the Autumn Carnival Package On Sale Now Handicap (1000m) for trainer Tim Martin from barrier one; the Chris Waller-trained Bright Mind in the Eremein Handicap (2000m); Visa Lisa in the Octagonal Handicap (1200m); and Ourbillydakid in the closing race of the day the BIG6 Jackpot Today Handicap.

The Randwick Racecourse gates open at 11:30am and the first race of the eight-event programme is due to commence at 1:10pm.

Randwick Race Programme – Saturday January 9:

The first major event, the Carrington Stakes, took place as race five on the day. The Clarry Conners-trained mare Court ($4), ridden by Glyn Schofield, claimed victory by 1.8m with Prince Braeman ($4.40) in second while Pins On Parade ($3.70) finished third. The odds-on favourite, Dorf Command ($3.40), following the scratching of early favourite News Alert at the gates, could only manage fourth place. It was an impressive comeback for Court, following a poor ninth place in her previous start in the Razor Sharp Handicap on December 19.

The Listed Tattersall’s Club Cup followed as race six, where Rainbow Styling ($3.10) won a length ahead of runner-up Hairy ($14), with the Peter Snowden-trained Spinney ($9) in third. The winner, ridden by Jim Cassidy, ran a sharp 2:04.89 over the 2000m staying event. It was a fantastic turn of luck for Cassidy, who just moments earlier had lost his ride in the Carrington Stakes when hot favourite News Alert was scratched following the rider’s concerns over the horse’s action.

It was a disappointing finish for the $3 favourite, Gai Waterhouse’s Rabbuka who came in sixth. Waterhouse saw plenty of other success on the day however, taking out the opening two races of the day. The trainer won the TAB Jackpots Today Handicap with Kinnersley and the Zephyr Bay Handicap with Power And Glory.

The next race meeting scheduled at Randwick is tomorrow, January 6 followed by a raceday this Saturday, January 9. This Wednesday the action takes place at the Randwick’s Kensington track. Gates open at 12:15pm while racing will take place from 1:53pm until the last race of the day jumps at 5:40pm. On Saturday, gates open at midday and the first race of the day starts at 1:10pm.

Randwick Race Results – Friday January 1:

Our office is taking a short break after a busy few months getting this great new Royal Randwick race resource up and running, and will be away from Saturday December 19 through until Sunday January 3.

As a new site we want to thank all those who have visited us so far and welcome you back next year as we expand and improve. We look forward to growing to be the leading provider of all things Randwick race related next year!

While we are away stay connected to the betting action at Randwick by visiting one of Australia’s best online bookmakers, such as sportsbet.com.au, where you will find all the race fields, odds and bet types all year round.

Merry Christmas!

The first race meeting held at Randwick in 2010 is on New Year’s Day when the esteemed course hosts the Tattersalls Club Cup Day. The two feature races on the day are the $100 000 Listed Tattersall’s Club Cup (2000m) and the $100 000 Listed Carrington Stakes (1000m).

Other scheduled race dates at Randwick in January 2010 are:

Wednesday January 6

Saturday January 9

Wednesday January 20

Tuesday January 26 – $100 000 Listed Australia Day Cup (2400m)

Saturday January 30

So for a day out with a difference make sure you head along to one of Randwick’s famous race meetings and experience the thrill and excitement thoroughbred racing has to offer first hand. Or, if you can’t make it to the track on the day but still want to get on board with the betting action, simply jump online and visit one of Australia’s leading bookmakers that offer all the odds and wagering options for every Randwick Race!

The opening race on a mega eight-race programme, this year’s Villiers Stakes’ nominations are in and the 17 hopefuls include a top quality collection of runners including Ipswich Cup winner Our Lukas.

Queensland trainer Robbie Heathcote is vying for his first Sydney victory with Our Lukas in the Villiers on Saturday after coming an unlucky second in the Listed Heritage Stakes in September with Funtantes.

Our Lukas is also nominated for an Open Handicap event at Doomben on Saturday, with Heathcote making his decision on which race to run the dual Listed winner in later in the week.

Peter Snowden, coming off a sensational set of four victories at Rosehill last weekend, has three runners nominated, Gosford Cup winner Spinney, Offenders and Togni as he attempts his first Villiers victory.

Meanwhile the prolific Gai Waterhouse is expected to pay up for both her nominees Rockwood and Rabbuka as she aims for a second win in the race following her victory back in 2005 with Aqua D’Amore.

The trainer dominating the Sydney trainer’s premiership this season with 33 city winners to date, Chris Waller will also face off against Snowden and Waterhouse on Saturday when he starts Love And Kisses in the Villiers. Waller has also won the race once before in 2007 by protest with Honor In War.