The nation’s best two-year-olds will take centre stage on Seven this Saturday as they do battle in two of the Autumn Racing Carnival’s most coveted events, the $1.5 million Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield and the Silver Slipper Stakes at Rosehill Gardens.
Anthony Freedman-trained Hanseatic will start favourite in the Blue Diamond – Victoria’s richest race for two-year-olds – after impressive wins in his first three starts. But the Godolphin colt will have to overcome a strong field over the feature’s 1200m journey, with Rulership , Letzbeglam and Magic Millions Classic winner Away Game expected to be his main challengers.
Cellsabeel looms as the horse to beat in the Group 2 Silver Slipper as the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained filly looks to cement her favouritism for next month’s Golden Slipper Stakes, but Blaze A Trail and Global Quest can’t be discounted in the 1100m feature.
Other highlights on a huge day of racing include the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) and Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, and the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) and Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill.
Bruce McAvaney will lead Seven’s coverage on Saturday, alongside Katelyn Mallyon , Jason Richardson and Corey Brown . Chris Symons and ‘Kevin from 7’ will interview the jockeys post-race on the track, Emma Vosti will report on the colour, fashions and VIP guests in and around the course, and Michelle Bishop will report from Rosehill.
Saturday February 22
Sydney 12.30pm LIVE on Channel 7 and 7plus
Melbourne 12.30pm LIVE on Channel 7 and 7plus
Brisbane 11.30am LIVE on Channel 7 and 7plus
Adelaide 12.00pm LIVE on Channel 7 and 7plus
Perth 9.30am LIVE on 7TWO and 7plus, 10.00am LIVE on Channel 7
How much money are Seven paying? Seven knew their financial position when they did this deal, so are they paying anything? Just splitting advertising revenue?
Australian Guineas at Flemington and the Chipping Norton Stakes at Royal Randwick
LIVE Saturday 12.30pm AEDT on 7, 7TWO and 7plus
Budding rivals Alligator Blood and Catalyst will square off again LIVE and FREE on Seven this Saturday as the very best milers take centre stage in the Australian Guineas at Flemington and the Chipping Norton Stakes at Royal Randwick.
The three-year-old geldings thrilled racegoers two weeks ago when they waged a titanic battle down Flemington’s home straight in the CS Hayes Stakes, with Alligator Blood ultimately prevailing on the line.
The star duo will fight it out again in the $1 million Australian Guineas – the Melbourne autumn carnival’s premier three-year-old mile – but Chenier and Alabama Express will be determined to ensure the Group 1 feature does not become a two-horse race.
Te Akau Shark is highly fancied to take out the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes after an impressive campaign last spring that included a third-place finish in the Cox Plate, but Dreamforce , Fierce Impact and Avilius will be out to thwart the New Zealand gelding’s plans.
Saturday’s other highlights include the Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) for the fillies at Randwick and the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.
Bruce McAvaney will lead Seven’s coverage on Saturday, alongside Katelyn Mallyon , Jason Richardson and Corey Brown . Chris Symons and ‘Kevin from 7’ will interview the jockeys post-race on the track, Emma Vosti will report on the colour, fashions and VIP guests in and around the course, and Michelle Bishop will report from Randwick.
TV Broadcast times:
Flemington – Australian Guineas Randwick – Chipping Norton Stakes Saturday February 29
Sydney 12.30pm LIVE on Channel 7 and 7plus
Melbourne 12.30pm LIVE on Channel 7 and 7plus
Brisbane 11.30am LIVE on Channel 7 and 7plus
Adelaide 12.00pm LIVE on Channel 7 and 7plus
Perth 9.30am LIVE on 7TWO and 7plus
Includes brief behind the scenes look at Seven’s racing coverage today. Bruce McAvaney presented the coverage with Katelyn Mallyon in a small white open tent (at 1:26 mark of the video).
Bruce McAvaney - He’s done a lot of sports coverage on 7 - AFL, Australian Open Tennis, Summer Olympics (except London 2012), COmmonwealth Games, Rugby World Cup, Winter Olympics, Golf, Horse Racing and Rugby Union. Deserves the award.