Trained by Bart Cummings, who is at St Vincent’s Private Hospital due to an illness, Dariana started slow but came home strong on the last day of the Sydney Racing Carnival.

Trained by Bart Cummings, Dariana started slow but came home strong on the last day of the Sydney Racing Carnival.

Al Dhafra was the favourite heading into the 2010 Frank Packer Plate, but the Guy Walter-trained gelding was disappointing on the Royal Randwick Racecourse and finished fourth and heads to the paddock for a spell.

Euphemism, trained by Peter Snowden finished second by half-a-length while Viking Hero rounded out the top three finishers.

Dariana looks set to travel to Queensland and compete in the Brisbane racing carnival, with the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) on the 5^th of June a strong possibility, with two wins from just six races as the filly sets out her first campaign.

Also taking place on Saturday alongside the 2010 Frank Packer Plate was the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m), the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) and the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes (1600m).

2010 Frank Packer Plate Results

The 2010 Sydney Cup headlined the day’s proceedings which culminated the Autumn Racing Carnival, and Craig Newitt certainly had a game plan for the winning John O’Shea-trained mare, settling her back in the field and timing the finish perfectly.

Craig Newitt certainly had a game plan for the winning John O’Shea-trained mare, settling her back in the field and timing the finish perfectly.

It was a fantastic finish which resulted in a mare’s cup quinella, with Divine Rebel three-quarters of a length behind in second – the mare’s second consecutive runner up spot in the event, while Harris Tweed was a further length behind in third.

The triumphant mare started badly, but given her innate ability to stay strong over the long distance, came good when she outstayed the rest of the field after a fabulous turn of foot in the tail end of the race.

Going into the race, Precedence was topping the odds, and while the Bart Cummings-trained gelding started strong and led the field, could not maintain the pace and crossed the line last, while Zavite was another contender and made the same mistake finishing a spot ahead of Precedence.

With such an impressive form over the 3,200 metre race, the most logical path for Jessicabeel will be the 2010 Melbourne Cup

Also taking place on Saturday alongside the 2010 Sydney Cup was the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), the Group 1 Champagne Stakes and the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m).

2010 Sydney Cup Results

A surprise 15-horse capacity field of eager two-year-olds has been announced as the final field for this Saturday’s $300,000 Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.

One of four Group 1 features to light up the track at the final Sydney autumn carnival meeting, the 2010 Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes is shaping up to be one of the most hotly contested affairs on the day and is due to jump at 2:15pm as race four.

There is any number of real chances in the juvenile showdown, including the current pre-race favourite Sasa sitting at $4.20 with IASbet.

The Tim Martin-trained Encosta De Lago filly has had just three career starts to date for one win but has received plenty of love from the punter’s backing her to soar out of barrier nine and lead all the way.

Close second favourite at $4.40 is the talented Beneteau in barrier five. Trained by Paul Messara, who is seeking just his second Group 1 win as a trainer following his success in the Coolmore Classic with stable reject Alverta, Beneteau ran an impressive fifth to Crystal Lily last start in the world’s richest race for two-year-olds, the Golden Slipper.

With five career starts to his name, including an unlucky third in the Blue Diamond Stakes, Beneteau has strong claims on Saturday.

Other exciting prospects in the 2010 Champagne Stakes include last start Group 1 AJC Sires Produce Stakes victor Yosei drawn ideally in barrier one, the Bart Cummings-trained Fernhill Handicap winner Kudakulari also drawn well in three, and consistent Show A Heart colt and Magic Millions winner Toorak Toff out wide in barrier 10.

Top trainers with multiple Champagne Stakes runners this year include Peter Snowden with Skilled (barrier 11) and Divorces (barrier 13); and Rosehill-based trainer David Payne represented by Praecido (barrier seven), long-priced filly Bombay (barrier 15) and Iron Lace (barrier eight) gaining a start following the scratching of Peter Moodys’ Another Sunday.

The feature race at Randwick on Saturday will be the $400,000 Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m), while other highlights will include the coveted $350,000 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) and the $300,000 All Aged Stakes (1400m).

The News page on this site has detailed previews and the final fields for all of these great Randwick races running on Saturday.

To read more about the 2010 Champagne Stakes click on the race name, or visit Races.com.au for all of Australian racing’s up-to-date news, previews and results.

*UPDATE: Leading trainer Anthony Cummings now has two runners starting in tomorrow’s Champagne Stakes after his emergency Shadows In The Sun gained a start following the scratching of the David Payne-trained Bombay.

2010 Champagne Stakes Final Field & Barriers

Due to jump at 1.05pm, the 2010 Frank Packer Plate will see nine fantastic three-year-olds compete over the staying distance, all vying for the prize money.

Favourite to cross the line first is the Guy Walter-trained Al Dhafra at $2.30.

Favourite to cross the line first is the Guy Walter-trained Al Dhafra at $2.30. Despite starting with a wide barrier – 10, the Warwick Farm-based gelding is still a favourite among the punters, after the three-year-olds impressive form recently.

Euphemism is the closest to the gelding with odds of $3.70 and starts from barrier two – an advantage over Al Dhafra.

Bart Cummings-trained Dariana is another contender at $8, starting on the outside of Euphemism, and will be looking to better herself from her sixth place finish in the Adrian Knox Stakes.

The Clarry Conners-trained Family Matters has been scratched from the 2010 Frank Packer Plate reducing the field from 10 starters.

Four fantastic Group 1 races form the fixture list for Randwick on Saturday in the $400,000 Sydney Cup (3200m), the All Aged Stakes (1400m), Champagne Stakes (1600m) and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1600m).

2010 Frank Packer Plate Final Field

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: