Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival Tips & Betting Advice

The Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival takes place between February and April each year at Randwick and Rosehill with 22 Group 1 races across the three months of the carnival. The headline act comes in April with the running of The Championships at Randwick, which feature eight of the Group 1s on successive Saturdays. The Doncaster Mile, Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Golden Slipper, TJ Smith Stakes, Australian Derby and Oaks and the Rosehill and Randwick Guineas are among the highlights.

GUIDE TO THE SYDNEY AUTUMN CARNIVAL

The Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival kicks off annually in February and culminates at the end of April on AJC Champagne Stakes Day at Royal Randwick Racecourse.

There are a total of 59 Group races throughout the autumn carnival with 21 of those races carrying Group 1 status.

Although the Carnival officially starts in February, the first of the big Group 1 races, the Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) is held at Randwick Racecourse in late February or early March. It is now joined by a new Group 1 with the Surround Stakes upgraded to elite level from 2018.

The carnival then shifts to Randwick the following week for the running of the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) where three-year-olds battle.

Other group races on Randwick Guineas Day include the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1400m), Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m), Group 2 Reisling Stakes (1200m), Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m), Group 3 Wenona Girl Quality (1200m) and Group 3 Aspiration Quality (1600m).

Rosehill Gardens is next to take centre stage with the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) for fillies and mares.

The following week at Rosehill brings more Group 1 action with a bumper day headlined by the Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m), the richest two-year-old race in the world. It also features the George Ryder Stakes (1500m), the weight-for-age Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m), the Rosehill Guineas and the The Galaxy (1100m).

The final day of racing at Rosehill sees the running of two Group 1 races with Tancred Stakes (2400m), formerly known as The BMW and run at weight-for-age conditions, and the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) for three-year-old fillies.

An initiative announced by Racing NSW and the Australian Turf Club in November 2013 saw the introduction of ‘The Championships’ as a two-day spectacle across successive Saturday’s at Randwick Racecourse.

The Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) is the feature race of the Randwick event, while the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m), Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) and Group 1 Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) combine for one of the richest days in Australian racing.

The Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) is now the richest race of the Sydney autumn, and the richest weight-for-age in the country, and takes centre stage on the second day of The Championships.

Three more Group 1 races take place alongside the Queen Elizabeth Stakes on the second day of The Championships, including the Coolmore Legacy Stakes (1600m), Sydney Cup (3200m) and the Australian Oaks (2400m).

To round out an action-packed festival of racing the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) for two-year-olds and the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) run under weight-for-age conditions will draw the curtain on the Sydney Autumn Carnival.

WHERE TO BET ON THE SYDNEY AUTUMN CARNIVAL

Bookmakers Ladbrokes, Neds and Sportsbet offer some of the best odds on racing in Sydney throughout the year. Or take advantage of the top 5 bookmaker deals below.

With a myriad of online sports betting sites out there, it can be tough to know which one is right for you. That’s why our team has diligently evaluated numerous Australian bookmakers in order to create the most comprehensive list – so that horse racing fans have everything they need at their fingertips! Our guide provides an abundance of details on websites for placing online horse racing bets and will help steer you towards finding your ideal fit for placing bets with confidence.