Nine entertaining races featured on the card, headlined by the world’s richest race for two-year-olds and the first leg of the prestigious Triple Crown for two-year-olds, the $3.5million Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m).

This year the 2010 Golden Slipper was won by the impressive Stratum filly Crystal Lily. Crystal Lily ($6), who looked an unsure winner after racing erratically out wide on the home straight, held on to claim a ½ length win ahead of another late entry runner Decision Time ($26) with More Strawberries ($12), the less fancied runner behind Brightexpectations ($8.50) from the stables of Gai Waterhouse, in third a further length away.

Brightexpectations was one of many disappointing short-priced runners who found the tough conditions and intense competition of the Golden Slipper too demanding, finishing a dismal 12^th one behind the odds-on favourite Military Rose ($3.50) in 11^th.

Follow the link to read more about Crystal Lily’s 2010 Golden Slipper Win.

The Golden Slipper ran as race seven at Rosehill on Saturday, but earlier in the day an incredible four other Group 1 races were held in anticipation of the scheduled highlight.

The first of the Group 1 features was the $400,000 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m), previously known as the Storm Queen Stakes, where Bart Cumming’s elite three-year-old filly Faint Perfume ($4.60) claimed a narrow ½ neck victory ahead of classy rival Valdemoro ($8.50). The top two finishing fillies left the rest of the field in their wake with the next closest runner, third placegetter Absolute Faith ($51) five and a half lengths further back.

Click on the link to see the complete 2010 Vinery Stud Stakes Results.

Following the Vinery Stud Stakes was the $400,000 Group 1 Queen of the Turf Stakes (1500m), where Australia’s most impressive, popular and highest seeded mare Typhoon Tracy claimed her fifth Group 1 success. The Peter Moody-trained talent started as the hot $1.40 favourite and scored another smart win this time 2 ¼ lengths ahead of Illuminates ($41) with the Gai Waterhouse-trained Montana Flyer ($31) in third.

The second most anticipated and lucrative race at the meeting was next on the programme, the $2.25million Group 1 The BMW (2400m). The testing weight-for-age feature was taken out in a surprise win by Littorio. Littorio ($17), in just his third career win, beat home the Anthony Cummings-trained Zavite ($31) by a mere neck with No Wine No Song ($26) a length away for third.

Race six was the $400,000 Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) where the $4.60 favourite, Danleigh, burst into Doncaster Mile contention with a gallant 1 ¾ length victory ahead of Dao Dao ($7.50) with last year’s third placegetter, King Mufhasa, repeating his performance to again finish two back from the winner just three quarters of a length away.

After all the hype and atmosphere of the Golden Slipper, two races finished off proceedings at the meeting.

The first was the $150,000 Group 2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) won by the John Thompson-trained Count Encosta ($9) who finished three quarters of a length ahead of Gai Waterhouse’s odds-on favourite Descarado ($3.20) with Maluckyday in third.

Gai Waterhouse finally secured a win in the closing race of the day after a frustrating succession of minor placings when Swift Alliance ($4.80) beat home the $3.20 favourite Welkom Gold by ½ a length with Typhoon Zed ($9) finishing third in the $125,000 The Sebring Stakes (1100m), previously known as the Star Kingdom Stakes.

The action of the Sydney autumn racing carnival now moves to the Royal Randwick Racecourse where the Australian Derby Day will take place this Saturday followed over the next few weeks by the Doncaster Handicap Day and Sydney Cup Day. Follow all the action of these great race days at Races.com.au.

Race Results – Rosehill – Saturday April 3, 2010:

This year the 2010 Rosehill Guineas was taken out by the promising Zabeel gelding, Zabrasive.

Trained by John O’Shea Zabrasive appreciated the extra distance of Saturday’s feature after placing an unfortunate fourth to Shoot Out in the Randwick Guineas (1600m) last start.

Zabrasive ($6) was ridden to perfection by Nash Rawiller and the two chased down early leader Gathering inside the 200m mark to get to the front, holding off a late challenge by Crown Guineas winner Rock Classic ($3.70) to win by a mere nose with Run For Narra ($11) two lengths further back for third.

The victory was Zabrasive’s first Group 1 win, and the talented youngster will move on to the $1.3million Group 1 AJC Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on April 10.

Earlier in the day a brilliant line-up of quality races entertained the crowds, with the first Group race at the meeting taking place as race four, the $150, 000 Group 2 Pago Pago Stakes (1200m).

This year the Pago Pago Stakes was won by Gai Waterhouse’s excellent More Than Ready colt Brightexpectations. The talented two-year-old began as the $2.60 favourite before going on to claim a dazzling all-the-way win over three lengths ahead of Blackball ($21) with the previously unbeaten Gerald Ryan-trained Hinchinbrook ($2.70) in third.

Brightexpectations has now burst into contention for the $3.5million Golden Slipper Stakes to be held next Saturday and is currently the third elect at $7.50 with IASbet to take out the richest two-year-olds’ race in the world behind Military Rose ($3.50) and Crystal Lily ($5.50).

Following the Pago Pago Stakes, the next event on the card at Rosehill was the $150, 000 Group 2 Magic Night Stakes (1200m), won by the Peter Moody-trained Tale Of The Cat filly Willow Creek in her first black type success.

Willow Creek settled worse than mid-field early in the event, as Psychologist stormed to the front leading by a devastating eight lengths at one stage.

But having pushed too hard to begin with, Psychologist faded over the closing stages of the race to finish a dismal tenth and allowing Willow Creek ($5) to race to victory three-quarters of a length ahead of the Gai Waterhouse-trained favourite More Strawberries ($3.50) with Celts a further half-length away for third.

The exciting Group racing action continued with the $150, 000 Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m) where the Kerry Parker-trained son of Fantastic Light, Brilliant Light, secured his sixth career win from 13 starts in a thrilling photo-finish event.

The four-year-old gelding began at odds of $5 and just managed to defeat equal second favourite Centennial Park by a short half-head with roughie Mentality ($31) in a fast finishing third.

It was a poor finish for the $2.90 favourite, Gai Waterhouse’s Rock Kingdom, who placed a listless sixth.

The performance was an excellent preparatory run for the $1.5million Group 1 Doncaster Handicap on April 17, for which Parker hopes Brilliant Light can gain a start for.

After the headline event, the Rosehill Guineas, the last Group race on the card and the closing event at the meeting was the $125, 000 Group 3 Birthday Card Stakes (1200m) where Joseph Pride’s Patronyme ($6) claimed victory a half-length ahead of the talented Beaded ($4) with Melito, the pre-race favourite at $2.90, in third.

This coming Saturday Rosehill Gardens will host its biggest and most bet on race meeting of the year, Golden Slipper Day featuring an elite line-up of races including five Group 1 events.

Race Results – Rosehill – Saturday March 27, 2010:

The scheduled highlight was the $600, 000 Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) where Alverta gave trainer Paul Messara his first Group 1 success.

The talented Flying Spur mare stared at generous odds of $18 after having only recently returned to racing since failing to get into foal since her spring retirement.

Alverta, who had also given Messara his first metropolitan win and his maiden stakes victory, proved her trainer’s decision to race her again a brilliant one as she claimed a two length victory ahead of the Gai Waterhouse-trained Gold Water ($17) with Palacio De Cristal, the $5.50 favourite, in third.

Earlier in the day, the first Group 1 feature at the Rosehill meeting took place, the $400, 000 Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m). Premier Sydney trainer Gai Waterhouse took out the staying feature with her classy gelding Theseo, winner of the feature last year.

Theseo become just the fourth horse in history to win back-to-back Ranvet Stakes and is proving one of the stars of the 2010 autumn carnival as he was coming off a last start win in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes.

Other highlights on the day included race three, where Gillian Heinrich’s brilliant filly Military Rose stormed into Golden Slipper favouritism when she toyed with her rivals to claim an emphatic victory in the $300, 000 Group 2 Reisling Stakes (1200m).

Military Rose has now won all five of her career starts and her unbeaten record and easy win ahead of high quality two-year-olds including John O’Shea’s Solar Charged who placed third on Saturday has seen her shorten to the $3.20 favourite with IASbet for the world’s richest race for two-year-olds on April 3.

Following Military Rose’s impressive victory, in race four at the Rosehill races on Saturday the David Payne-trained Masquerader maintained his unbeaten record winning his second race start in the $300, 000 Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m).

In the $150, 000 Group 2 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) Les Bridge’s six-year-old Nothin’ Leica Dane mare Hot Danish proved she still had plenty of steam, defeating a classy field including runner-up Black Piranha.

The final Group feature race of the day took place as race eight just after the Coolmore Classic. The $150, 000 Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) was won by the Peter Moody-trained Redoute’s Choice colt Tickets.

The victory gave the leading Caulfield trainer a small victory on a day filled with disappointment, including the scratching of his filly Set For Fame, an early favourite for the Coolmore Classic.

Race Results – Rosehill – Saturday March 20, 2010:

Local trainer Gai Waterhouse added another win to her name when her runner Rabbuka, the $4.20 favourite, claimed victory 1 1/4 lengths ahead of the Peter Snowden-trained Spinney ($5.50) with Adelaide Cup winner Zavite ($16), trained by Anthony Cummings, coming in third.

It was a gallant run by seven-year-old Zavite, who carried the topweight of 59kg and did well to finish in the top three after missing the start.

Carrying the second heaviest weight of 57.5kg did nothing to slow Rabbuka down as he stormed to the winning post first in a time of 2:03.36 for his first 2000m victory.

Jockey Nash Rawiller followed Waterhouse’s instructions and rode the six-year-old Giant’s Causeway gelding aggressively to the line in a lead-all-the-way win.

The second favourite at $3.30, Rainbow Styling, failed to live up to the punter’s expectations, coming in fifth just behind fourth placegetter Theophorus ($9.50) after the wide barrier draw proved too much for the Hawkes-trained five-year-old.

Rabbuka has now won eight of his 21 career starts for over $390 000 in prizemoney.

Next on the cards at Rosehill are barrier trials on Friday 22^nd January, followed by the course’s next feature race meeting the Racing Rewards Inglis Classic Race Day on Saturday the 23^rd.

2010 Frank Underwood Cup Results:

The first race of the day, the Golden Slipper Festival on Sale Handicap (1100m) was taken out in style by two-year-old One More Grand, the small colt defeating a quality field including runner-up Rock My Heart by nearly four lengths and third placegetter Much Much More.

Another notable win on the day included the Peter Snowden-trained Pinwheel in race two, the Rosehill Gardens Event Centre Handicap (1200m), which gave the unbeaten runner a hat-trick of victories. Ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, the favourite at $1.60 managed to beat home the Chris Waller-trained Gangitano ($12) by four-and-a-half lengths with Malambo ($10) in third.

Snowden also saw some success in race three, the $250 000 Jackpot BIG6 Handicap (1400m), the trainer taking out second and third placings with Aultone and Counterpane behind the David Payne-trained winner Girl Hussler; as well as taking out race five, the Canterbury Park Event Centre Handicap, with his horse Renaissance.

The next meeting at Rosehill will be tomorrow’s barrier trials, with 14 heats taking place from 8:15am – 10:25am. The Guy Walter-trained Hood will draw a bit of attention in Heat 10 (900m), the three-year-old a half brother to the former champion racehorse Tie The Knot, a 13 time Group 1 winner.

Rosehill Gardens Race Results – Saturday January 2^nd 2010:

Following last Saturday’s Christmas Cup Day, the last meeting at Rosehill Gardens will be the Barrier Trials on Tuesday 22^nd December then the thrills of thoroughbred racing begin again for another year in January 2010.

The first race meeting for the 2010 at Rosehill Racecourse is on Saturday 2^nd January followed by another Saturday Raceday on the 16^th.

The Sydney racecourse will also host two days of Barrier Trials on Tuesday the 5^th of January and Friday the 22^nd.

The most anticipated meeting for January 2010 at Rosehill Gardens, however, will be held on Saturday the 23^rd when the course is home to the Racing Rewards Inglis Classic Race Day.

The in-form five-year-old, Scouting Wide ($5.50) proved himself as a genuine stayer when he held on to defeat his seven rivals in the 2400m test, after setting a rapid pace straight from the gates.

The Chris Waller-trained outsider Bright Mind ($21) was a neck back as runner-up, three lengths ahead of the favourite at $2.20, Bart Cummings’ Star Ripper in third.

Scouting Wide’s career record now stands at three wins from 11 career starts for over $180 000 in prizemoney.

Scouting Wide is by the legendary Cambridge sire, Zabeel who has now sired 122^nd stakes winners.

Eight quality races were conducted on the day and other wins included Zampara in race three, the Tony and Manera Lahood Handicap (2000m). The lightly raced seven-year-old gelding will now be aimed at the Group 3 Summer Cup (2400m) on Boxing Day where he might come up against Christmas Cup winner Scouting Wide.

2009 Christmas Cup Results:

His quartet of winners included brother and sister Pinwheel and Counterpane who claimed successive victories in the TAB Number 1 Club Handicap (1200m) and the www.theraces.com.au Handicap (1200m).

The result was Snowden’s second highest number of winners at a single race meeting, having previously trained five champions at the same raceday, but the brother and sister feat was a first.

Pinwheel, a four-year-old gelding, and Counterpane, a three-year-old filly, are by former racing great Lonhro out of Quilt.

Snowden also saw victory in the Gold Coast International Hotel Handicap (1200m) with Killian and in the Jim Beam Handicap (1200m) with his gifted mare Clothing.

The impressive Rosehill assault has rapidly improved Snowden’s stocks for the Sydney Trainers Premiership this season as his tally of wins now stands at 28, just five behind the leader Chris Waller. Snowden is looking to atone for his second place to Gai Waterhouse in last season’s premiership.

Race Results – Rosehill Gardens December 12:

Waterhouse’s two-year-old Extreme Mover took out the opening race of the day, the Golden Slipper Festival On Sale Handicap (1100m) and now has a strong chance of joining Wyong Slipper winner Brightexpectations at the feature Gold Coast event next month.

Extreme Mover, purchased for $70 000, gave Waterhouse her first metropolitan juvenile winner this season, and she will make the decision whether to run him in next month’s $2million Magic Millions (1200m) at the end of next week.

Already the young gelding has been installed as the second favourite behind Ambers Waltz for the event by the bookmakers.

On Saturday, Extreme Mover ($1.90F) defeated David Payne’s Reem ($7.50) by three lengths with Hot Rocks ($21) in third.

2009 Golden Slipper Festival On Sale Handicap Results:

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