Media Release Racing NSW
This afternoon’s opening day of The Star Championships delivered some outstanding racing
action with the weather finally clearing before a sizeable crowd at Royal Randwick.
“The Championships is now into its eighth year and continually provides some of the nation’s
finest racing,” said Racing NSW’s CEO, Peter V’landys AM.
“Today’s Day 1 of The Championships demonstrated that racing has rebounded from a tough
couple of years, and it was terrific to see such a big crowd enjoying themselves.”
Highlights included the hard-fought victory of Hitotsu in the Bentley Australian Derby and the
sensational win of Nature Strip in the Furphy TJ Smith Stakes.
Sydney jockey Brenton Avdulla raced to the lead in the Nathan Berry Medal having taken out
the Inglis Sires’ aboard filly Fireburn. He sits on five points, one in advance of Nash Rawiller
and Hugh Bowman.
Australian Turf Club Chief Executive, Jamie Barkley said Sydney had embraced the Winx
Stand on a world-class day of racing.
“An electric atmosphere at Royal Randwick in the Winx Stand was matched by the action on
the track,” Mr Barkley said.
“Sydney has celebrated autumn in stunning fashion, and we look forward to hosting next
week’s Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes which shapes as one of the most anticipated races
in Australia for many decades.”
ARA award-winning Aussie band Sheppard capped off an amazing day with a rousing
performance in the Theatre of the Horse.
The Championships concludes at Royal Randwick next Saturday featuring the $4 million
Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) and $2 million Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m).
