Day One of The Championships certainly delivered and Day Two is set to be bigger and better!
With nine stakes races, along with the Provincial Championships Final set to be run and won at Royal Randwick, it’s easy to see why it’s one of the best days on the Australian Racing Calendar.
With $5m up for grabs in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes the 2000m event is the feature on the card with a full field set to line up, including Cox Plate champ Via Sistina who will look to go one better after finishing the runner up last year.
King Charles Stakes winner Ceolwulf will also take his place along with international raiders, Dubai Honour and the Japanese pair, Rousham Park and Geoglyph.
There’ll be no shortage of talent across the day with the time honoured Sydney Cup, Australian Oaks and Queen Of The Turf Stakes to also be contested.
We’ve done the hard work of you, and you can find all of our detailed selections below.
Race 1 (11:45pm AEST) HKJC WORLD POOL FERNHILL MILE 2YO LISTED 1600M
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No. 4 Michelangelo
Michelangelo was doing his best work late last start in the Baillieu, and I think he’ll relish getting out to the mile here.
Having his third race start, the son of Trapeze Artist settled at the tail and didn’t have the clearest of runs in the straight but finished off nicely over the final part.
He’s shown good improvement with each outing and looks ready to peak.
Race 2 (12:20pm AEST) BISLEY WORKWEAR SOUTH PACIFIC CLASSIC 3YO LISTED 1400M
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No. 5 Nostringsattached
Nostringsattached comes to Sydney looking to make it four straight wins.
The Extreme Choice colt was sent to paddock after just two starts and has returned bigger and better this time in.
He overcame bad luck to score first up at Pakenham before turning out a determined effort to salute on the Lakeside.
His most recent effort has been his most impressive, as he let down strongly to take out the $300k Future Stars Final.
With six weeks since that outing, he’s been kept up to the mark with a 1000m trial and whilst this is tougher than what he’s previously contested, he looks a smart horse on the rise.
Blake Shinn has partnered him in all three victories, and he stays aboard as the pair will look to maintain their perfect record.
Race 3 (12:55PM AEST) POLYTRACK PROVINCIAL – MIDWAY CHAMPIONSHIPS FINAL SW 1400M
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No. 1 Matcha Latte
Matcha Latte comes off a strong all-the-way win in the Provincial Championship Qualifier and with the low draw, I think he’s set to repeat that performance.
Prepared by Sara Ryan, the son of Maurice was nailed right on the line when resuming in the qualifier at Newcastle but with the added the fitness last time, he proved too good.
It was only his second career victory, but the gelding has always showed plenty of talent and has continued to perform well at stakes level throughout his career.
He gets in beautifully here under the set weights conditions and Ashley Morgan stays in the saddle.
Race 4 (1:30pm AEST) THE STAR PERCY SYKES STAKES 2YO FILLIES GROUP 2 1200M
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No. 2 Tempted
It was a tough watch if you were on Tempted in the Golden Slipper and with even luck, I think she’ll be very hard to beat here in the Percy Sykes Stakes.
Held up for much of the straight, the Godolphin filly charged late once clear to grab third.
She was brilliant when taking out the Riesling at her prior start and it was a deserved win for the filly as she’d been luckless in both the Widden Stakes and the Blue Diamond.
James McDonald partnered her to victory in the Reisling, he jumps back aboard and if she can find cover early off the wide gate, she’ll be powering home late.
Race 5 (2:05pm AEST) ARROWFIELD 3YO SPRINT SW GROUP 2 1200M
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No. 8 Autumn Glow
Autumn Glow kicked returned to the races in fine order with a decisive victory in the Listed Darby Munro and she looks set for another big campaign.
Stalking the leaders, she showed plenty of heart when asked for an effort as she let down strongly to pull away and score by almost two lengths.
Now unbeaten in four race starts, the daughter of The Autumn Sun took all before in her first campaign, scoring a dominant win on debut in a 3YO Benchmark 72 Handicap before taking the step to stakes grade, with wins in both the Group Three Up and Coming Stakes and the Group Two Tea Rose Stakes.
She strips fitter from that first up outing and gets in beautifully with just 54.5kgs under the set weights conditions.
James McDonald will ride her at that weight, and I think she’ll prove very hard to beat once again in the Arrowfield 3YO Sprint.
Race 6 (2:40pm AEST) ASAHI SUPER DRY AUSTRALASIAN OAKS 3YO FILLIES SW GROUP 1 2400M
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No. 2 Treaurethe Moment
Treasurethe Moment continues to get the job done and I don’t think it’ll be any different this weekend as she tackles the 2025 Australian Oaks.
Coming off another dominant display as she proved superior in the Vinery Stud Stakes, the Matt Laurie trained filly showed she had no trouble with the Sydney ‘way of going’.
The daughter of Alabama Express has built a tremendous record in a short time, having recorded eight wins and two minor placings from just her ten race starts and she’s doing it with ease.
Winner of the VRC Oaks in the Spring, we know she’ll relish getting out to 2400m and she draws to get a beautiful run in transit under Damian Lane.
Race 7 (3:15pm AEST) SCHWEPPES SYDNEY CUP GROUP 1 3200M
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No. 8 Alalcance
They haven’t been able to get past Alalcance in her three runs this preparation and I think that will be the case once again.
The Waterhouse / Bott trained mare kicked off her campaign with a gutsy win in the Randwick City Stakes before delivering a dominant 4.5 length romp in the Manion Cup.
Out to 2600m last start in the Chairman’s Quality, she had them covered a long way out and kicked clear to score by over two and a half lengths.
Only lightly raced having had the ten starts, the former Irish galloper is building an enviable record, and I don’t think she’ll have any trouble stretching out to the two-mile journey.
She does have the wide draw to overcome but Tim Clark has formed a great affinity with this mare and he’s sure to afford her every chance.
Race 8 (3:55pm AEST) QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES WFA GROUP 1 2000M
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No. 12 Via Sistina
I’ve been with Via Sistina the whole way along and I’m not about to jump off now.
The mighty mare returned to her best with a strong second up win in the Verry Elleegant Stakes and she was even better again last time in the Ranvet.
Now an eight-time Group One winner, she just keeps stepping up and it’s hard to go against her in this year’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
The inside draw will see her enjoy a cosy run throughout and if James McDonald can angle her out at the right, time I think she’ll be too good for them late.
Race 9 (4:35pm AEST) TAB QUEEN OF THE TURF STAKES F&M WFA GROUP 1 1600M
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No. 1 Fangirl
It’s hard to go past Fangirl here.
The Chris Waller trained mare is as honest as they come, and she continues to hold her own against the best horses in the country.
She was too good when resuming in the Apollo and has been a narrow runner up at her past two starts at Group One level.
Her most recent run was full of merit as she charged late to get within nose of Gringotts in the George Ryder after enduring a wide run throughout.
She loves it here at Randwick, the slight rise to the mile will suit and she gets in well under the set weights conditions against her own sex.
James McDonald will again do the steering and barrier six should see her afforded every chance.
Race 10 (5:10pm AEST) CINCOTTA CHEMIST SAPPHIRE STAKES F&M SW GROUP 2 1200M
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No. 5 Commemorative
Commemorative comes off an unlucky run in the Group One The Galaxy and she there’s a lot to like about her here in the Sapphire Stakes.
Slowly away, the daughter of I Am Invincible settled back in field and was then held up for much of the straight.
It was a similar story for her first up in the Triscay but with clear running in the Wenona Girl, she proved too good second up.
An imposing mare, she’ll appreciate getting back to Randwick and the slight rise to 1200m certainly suits.
James McDonald takes over and whilst she does have the outside gate to overcome, it means she’ll be given plenty of room, allowing her to finish off strong.
Tips, recommendations and commentary are for entertainment only. All prices are Fixed win odds. We provide no warranty about accuracy or completeness. You should make your own assessment before placing a bet. Odds are correct as of 22/05/2025 07:39:56am AEST and subject to change.