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

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.