For punters looking for an Australian odds comparison there is no better place than Sportsbet, as many punters found out over the weekend.

The first feature to take to the track was the Group Two Furious Stakes (1400m) as race four.

Gai Waterhouse had a solid run from More Strawberries who secured her maiden win. The filly overcame the odds to defeat the Peter Snowden-trained duo of Divorces and Parables.

Runner up Divorces was convincing in what was her first up run for the spring, whereas stablemate Parables was the pre race favourite with SportsBet and didn’t create much of a threat.

The headlining event of the day – the Group Two Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) – was the fifth race of the day, and saw some great racing.

It was once again a Waterhouse-trained runner to claim the victory, this time Theseo.

The winner was guided by Nash Rawiller in the saddle, and has given Waterhouse the confidence she may finally achieve her career ambition – to win the Cox Plate.

Theseo managed to hold off a strong finish from the Group Two Warwick Stakes (1200m) winner Metal Bender, which finished back in second in a fantastic race for spectators.

There were another six superb races which took to the Randwick Racecourse and formed the Carnival, which will head to the Rosehill Gardens Racecourse next week.

So if you would like to follow any of the runners’ spring campaigns then head to SportsBet for the latest and more lucrative odds online.

2010 Furious Stakes Results

2010 Chelmsford Stakes Results

Trained by Warwick Farm-based mentor Joseph Pride, Sacred Choice went out at $11 and surprised many by narrowly defeating the hot $2.50 favourite and her half-sister, the Gai Waterhouse-trained Gold Water, by a half-head in a thrilling photo-finish.

Strawberry Field ($8.50) was an even tighter margin away in third, a mere short half-head, followed by stablemate, John O’Shea’s imported galloper Music Review ($26) in fourth.

Gold Water led throughout but was beaten in the final strides by Sacred Choice, who pulled out a dazzling late burst to run down the favourite and come away with the win.

Carrying an extra 1kg than the winner, Gold Water was found wanting inside the final 30 metres after a fast paced race at the front.

Coming off a disappointing fourth place to Messenger in the Epona Stakes (1900m), a month’s rest between runs, step down in distance and wearing blinkers for the first time seemed to do the trick for Sacred Choice in the Emancipation Stakes.

The winning Choisir mare, Sacred Choice, now has seven wins to her name from 20 career starts with her total prizemoney earned reaching $306,890.

Despite the win tempting connections to keep the in-form mare racing this season in the Brisbane winter carnival, Sacred Choice will instead be sent to the paddock in preparation for a hopefully impressive spring campaign.

Classy runner-up Gold Water, now coming off three frustrating second placings, will continue on to the coveted Queensland races with Waterhouse looking at features including the $1 million Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) on June 12^th , the $500,000 Group 1 Winter Stakes (1400m) on June 26, or even the $500,000 Group 1 Doomben Cup (2020m) held earlier on for the four-year-old mare.

It was an elite race programme held at Randwick on Saturday, boasting four great Group 1 races including the $400,000 Sydney Cup (3200m) won by Jessicabeel, and the $350,000 Queen Elizabeth Stakes where the Anthony Cummings-trained Road To Rock claimed victory.

Detailed results on all of the excellent Randwick races that were held on the final race meeting of the Sydney autumn carnival can also be found at Races.com.au, one of Australia’s leading Group race information sites.

2010 Emirates Emancipation Stakes Results

There are four great Group 1 features scheduled for the day, but as well as these a range of other exciting black type races will also run including the $150,000 Group 2 Emirates Emancipation Stakes (1600m) set to jump at 1:40pm as race three.

The Gai Waterhouse-trained Gold Water will start as the hot pre-race favourite

One runner has emerged as the hot pre-race favourite out of the 16 contending fillies and mares, the Gai Waterhouse-trained Gold Water currently at $3 with IASbet.

But with the four-year-old Choisir mare drawn out wide in barrier 14, other females with claims include Sacred Choice jumping from barrier one, the Anthony Cummings-trained Prima Nova, and John O’Shea’s improving Strawberry Field.

A full preview of the 2010 Emancipation Stakes can be found by clicking on the race name.

To read the final field and previews for the Saturday’s Group 1 features including the coveted $400,000 Sydney Cup (3200m) and the $350,000 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), visit the news page on this site where you will find all the latest information on this weekend’s Randwick races.

Final Field & Barriers for the 2010 Emancipation Stakes:

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:

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.

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:

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.