Every year Sydney is home to two of Australia’s top racing carnivals, the first in autumn and then a second in spring. The carnivals are run by the Australian Jockey Club (AJC) and the Sydney Turf Club (STC) and are held at the premier metropolitan racecourses around the city. The STC hosts a plethora of fantastic group races at the leading track; the scenic Rosehill Gardens racecourse and this site will give you all the details of the feature Rosehill races held as part of these exciting and highly anticipated carnivals. Rosehill is also home to a range of other quality events held outside of these carnivals at their weekly race meets to keep racing enthusiasts, spectators and punters entertained throughout the year.
Rosehill Autumn Carnival ~ Rosehill Spring Carnival
Rosehill Autumn Carnival
The Sydney Autumn Carnival is the elite series of race meetings in New South Wales and sees some of Australia’s richest and most celebrated group races take place. The SJC and AJC offer over $22 million in prize money over the course of the carnival and the finest thoroughbreds from across the country make their way to Sydney for the events every year.
The first Group race of the carnival is the Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill in early February. After this, there are a number of quality Group 2 and 3 Rosehill races held including the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m), Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) and the lead-up to the Golden Slipper, the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m), before the really high stake racing commences with the first Group 1 Rosehill race held in March, the $600,000 Coolmore Stud Classic (1500m).
At Rosehill, the focus of the carnival is the series of races held at the course over the Golden Slipper Festival, which takes place in early April. This is when the richest race for two-year-olds in the world, the $3.5 million Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m), takes place. Slipper Day is the highlight Rosehill meeting in August featuring an impressive five Group 1 races including The BMW (2400m) and the Queen of the Turf Stakes (1500m).
Rosehill Autumn Carnival Racedays
During the coveted Sydney Autumn Carnival, Rosehill racecourse hosts six incredible race days packed full of action.
Expressway Stakes Day is the first race day of the carnival and is held in early February.
Apollo Stakes Day is held in mid-February.
Hobartville Stakes Day held on the last Saturday in February.
Coolmore Stud Classic held in March features the first lot of Group 1 races at Rosehill.
Rosehill Guineas Day held on the final Saturday in March.
Golden Slipper Day on the first weekend in April is the most lucrative and famous Rosehill meeting.
Rosehill Autumn Carnival Feature Races
All of these great race days see a huge variety of intense and thrilling group races run. Here we will list the races by their group status with the race distance, type and stakes for each event.
GROUP 1:
Coolmore Stud Classic: 1500m – Fillies & Mares Quality Handicap – $600 000
Ranvet Stakes: 2000m – Weight-for-age – $400 000
Rosehill Guineas: 2000m – 3YO at Set Weights – $500 000
Golden Slipper Stakes: 1200m – 2YO at Set Weights – $3.5million
The BMW: 2400m – Weight-for-age – $2.25million
Arrowfield Stud Stakes: 2000m – 3YO Fillies at Set Weights – $400 000
George Ryder Stakes: 1500m – Weight-for-age – $400 000
Queen of the Turf Stakes: 1500m – Fillies & Mares Weight-for-age – $400 000
GROUP 2:
Expressway Stakes: 1200m – Weight-for-age – $200 000
Apollo Stakes: 1400m – Weight-for-age – $250 000
Hobartville Stakes: 1400m -3YO at Set Weights – $200 000
Silver Slipper Stakes: 1100m – 2YO at Set Weights – $200 000
Reisling Slipper Trial: 1200m – 2YO Fillies at Set Weights – $300 000
Todman Slipper Trial: 1200m – 2YO Colts & Geldings at Set Weights – $300 000
Canterbury Stakes: 1300m – Weight-for-age – $140 000
Phar Lap Stakes: 1500m – 3YO at Set Weights – $140 000
Ajax Stakes: 1500m – Quality Handicap – $150 000
Pago Pago Stakes: 1200m – 2YO Colts & Geldings at Set Weights – $140 000
Magic Night Stakes: 1200m – 2YO Fillies at Set Weights – $140 000
Tulloch Stakes: 2000m – 3YO Colts & Geldings at Set Weights – $140 000
GROUP 3:
Millie Fox Stakes: 1300m – Fillies & Mares Quality Handicap – $100 000
Star Kingdom Stakes: 1100m – Open Handicap – $100 000
Birthday Card Stakes: 1200m – Fillies & Mares Quality Handicap – $100 000
Rosehill Spring Carnival
The second racing carnival to hit Sydney is in spring from August through to the end of October. The Sydney Spring Carnival does not host as many Group 1 events as the autumn meetings, but there is still a fantastic array of quality races to keep you entertained! Racing kicks off on the first Saturday in August at Rosehill with the Group 3 Missile Stakes (1100m). Following this is a number of excellent Group 2 and 3 events at Rosehill including the Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m).
The real action begins later in the month when the Sydney Turf Club runs its first and only Group 1 race in the spring season, the $1 million Golden Rose (1400m). The racecourse then sees two more quality meetings held before racing moves to Randwick for the AJC’s feature races.
Rosehill Spring Carnival Racedays
There are five enthralling race days held at Rosehill during the spring.
Missile Stakes Day held on the first Saturday of August sees the start of spring racing in Sydney.
Premiere Stakes Day held in mid August.
Golden Rose Day in late August is the premier meeting at Rosehill at the carnival.
Theo Marks Stakes Day held in mid September.
Gloaming Stakes Day towards the tail end of September finishes off spring racing at Rosehill.
Rosehill Spring Carnival Feature Races
Throughout these great race meetings, the STC conducts a number of impressive group races. The details for each race including the track distance, qualifying conditions and prize money for each event are listed below, with the races listed according to their group status.
GROUP 1:
Golden Rose: 1400m – 3YO at Set Weights – $1 million
GROUP 2:
Premiere Stakes: 1200m – Weight-for-age – $150 000
Theo Marks Stakes: 1300m – 3YO&up Quality Handicap – $200 000
Tea Rose Stakes: 1500m – 3YO Fillies at Set Weights – $150 000
Shannon Stakes: 1500m – 3YO&up Quality Handicap – $150 000
Hill Stakes: 1900m – 3YO at Set Weights + Penalties – $120 000
GROUP 3:
Missile Stakes: 1100m – Weight-for-age – $125 000
The Run To The Rose: 1300m – 3YO Quality Handicap – $125 000
Concorde Stakes: 1100m – 3YO&up Quality Handicap – $125 000
Research Stakes: 1200m – 3YO Fillies & Mares Quality Handicap – $125 000
Kingston Town Stakes: 2000m – 3YO&up Quality Handicap – $100 000
Gloaming Stakes: 1800m – 3YO at Set Weights – $250 000
There are also quite a number of fine listed events held at Rosehill throughout the Spring Carnival as well including the Premier’s Cup (1800m), Heritage Stakes (1200m) and the Starlight Stakes (1100m).
