The 2021 Spring Racing Carnival will kick off on the Seven Network over the next 13 weeks, when fans will see all the thoroughbred action from around Australia including the Caulfield Cup, Everest, Cox Plate and Golden Eagle.
This Saturday, Seven will bring viewers the Chelmsford Stakes Day at Randwick and Cox Plate Qualifier Day at Moonee Valley, with the live and free coverage starting at 12.00pm AEST on Channel Seven, 7two and 7plus.
That starts three months of racing on Seven that includes 14 Group 1 races and the most prestigious meetings in Sydney and Melbourne.
Seven’s commentary team will again be led by Bruce McAvaney. This weekend he will be joined by national racing icon Michelle Payne, who remains the only female jockey to have won the Melbourne Cup, along with fan favourites Jason Richardson, Katelyn Mallyon and Deane Lester, while Sky Racing’s Lizzie Jelfs will be trackside at Randwick.
Managing director Seven Melbourne and head of network sport, Lewis Martin, said: “The Spring Racing Carnival enjoys a special place on the international sporting calendar that only grows stronger by the year.
“The time-honoured tradition of the Caulfield Guineas, Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate is now complemented by the irresistible buzz around the Golden Eagle, The Everest and, from this year, The Invitation – and the Spring is even more exciting for it.
“This spring the only place to see the most prestigious races throughout Australia is Seven, Your Home of Racing,” he said.
At Randwick, this Saturday’s headline act is the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m). Chris Waller has won six of the feature race’s past 10 editions and has another strong hand this year with five runners led by Shared Ambition and Kukeracha. But Doncaster Mile winner Cascadian, Think It Over and She’s Ideel will be out to thwart the master trainer’s plans.
Randwick’s other highlights will include the John Thompson-trained Dreamforce’s attempt to win the Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) for a third consecutive year, ahead of favourite and Group 1 winner Zaaki.
The world’s best sprinter, Nature Strip, also opens his spring campaign in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m).
At Moonee Valley, the Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) promises to be a hotly contested race, with the winner earning automatic entry into this year’s Cox Plate. It features unbeaten New Zealand gelding Elephant, who is stepping up to stakes grade for the first time, but PB Lawrence Stakes winner Sierra Sue and All-Star Mile runner-up Superstorm will be hard to beat, along with European imports Port Guillaume and Dawn Patrol in their Australian debuts.
Saturday’s action at Moonee Valley also includes the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m), which shapes as a fierce battle between Portland Sky, September Run, Esta La Roca and The Inferno, while the maiden edition of the Chautauqua Stakes (1200m) will pit Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stablemates Away Game and Bella Nipotina against Doomben 10,000 runner-up Wild Planet.