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 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: