Tuesday’s Breakfast Trackwork session and Barrier Draw event at Royal Randwick racecourse has certainly set the scene for a memorable days racing this Saturday at Royal Randwick.

The curtain will be lifted on the 2008 Tooheys New Royal Randwick Carnival this Saturday in spectacular style with an opening day feast of quality racing and equally sizzling off-track social action taking place.

Saturday sees the running of the prestigious Group 1 David Jones Australian Derby along with the time-honoured Group 1 Emirates Doncaster Handicap, two classic Randwick feature races drawn together on the one program for the first time since 2004.

Add Royal Randwick’s famous Lawn Party, the eagerly-awaited unveiling of several elegant sponsors marquees, a dedicated fashion precinct on course featuring a revamped and upgraded Fashions on the Field competition –  and all race fans and partygoers alike really have an exciting day to look forward to this Saturday.

At final acceptances, the Group 1 David Jones Australian Derby was confirmed with a full field of 17 colts and geldings to do battle over the classic distance of 2400M. Early Derby elect, the Victorian Littorio retained favouritism after drawing barrier 2, with his main dangers Dealer Principal, Steel Giant and Largo Lad all drawing wide.

The Emirates Doncaster Handicap run over the famous 1600 Randwick mile is an intriguingly open affair as usual, with impressive last-start winners Eskimo Queen and Forensics vying for favouritism with popular mare Hot Danish after the barrier draw.

Along with the Derby and Doncaster, Saturday boasts two other quality Group 1 events to certainly whet the appetite of race fans. The 1400M Inglis Sires Produce Stakes sees a return clash of the first two horses over the line in last weeks AAMI Golden Slipper, Sebring and Von Costa De Hero. The sprint feature, the TJ Smith Stakes of 1200M Gr 1, will feature the popular return of champion sprinter Takeover Target, back to reclaim his Royal Randwick sprint crown after a triumphant summer at the track.

Racegoers wanting to be part of all this great action and excitement are encouraged to pre-purchase their Tooheys New Royal Randwick Carnival tickets through the Ticketek website: www.ticketek.com.au. This is the best way to ensure a guaranteed, hassle-free and speedy entry into the course this Saturday.

Participants interested in participating in this years spectacular Visa Platinum Fashions on the Field Competition can either pre-register on www.randwickprincess.com or register on each carnival racemorning at the Randwick Fashion precinct on Rose Garden lawn.

The weather forecast suggests that the early showers we have been experiencing this week will clear for the weekend, and everyone is looking forward to one of Australia’s most prestigious days of racing at Royal Randwick this Saturday with great anticipation.