4.58pm
Superb win to It's A Dundeel in the $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes - the feature event of The Championships - which was run on an upgraded Dead (5) track. Sacred Falls was unlucky to finish second as he was hampered at a vital stage. The Queen's galloper Carlton House hung on for third after setting a hot pace. Note that Boban bled during the race, which explains his poor performance. He now receives a mandatory three-month racing ban. No such worries for It's A Dundeel, who made light of slipping over in his stall pre-race and taking some skin off his leg. Last race of The Championships coming up. Plucky Belle opened up short at $3.20 and is now $3.60. Note Peron, who has a brilliant first-up record, is very solid at $5. Think Peron and Dystopia, very good behind Lankan Rupee in the Oakleigh Plate last start, are the two key runners.
4.05pm
Big news ahead of the $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes is that It's A Dundeel slipped in the stalls in the past hour and has some lacerations. But he has been passed fit by the vet to start. Reckon if you still want to back it, you'll get a decent price now. Emotional scenes after the Sydney Cup as Tommy Berry won his second Group 1 for the day on The Offer. Another Group 1 on the day for trainer Gai Waterhouse also. But why is Gai wearing a black spiky animal on her head? Oh, it's supposed to be a hat…
Having won the Queen of the Turf Stakes, Tommy Berry salutes twin brother Nathan, who passed away earlier this month. Photo Brendon Thorne (Getty)
3.35pm
Our selection Rising Romance upsets the hot favourite Lucia Valentina at $6.50 top fluc to win the Group 1 Australian Oaks. If you followed our multiples, you'd have the trifecta too. Let's hope we can keep the winning run going with Voleuse De Coeurs in the Sydney Cup, next up at Randwick. She's $10, but was $13 early in the week. Much of the business around this race was done before raceday. But there has been an interesting on-track move for Kiwi visitor Who Shot Thebarman ($8 into $6.50). The Offer remains favourite at around the $3.20 mark.
James McDonald aboard Australian Oaks winner Rising Romance. Photo Brendon Thorne (Getty)
2.54pm
$41 chance Diamond Drille gives trainer Gai Waterhouse and jockey Tommy Berry the first of the Group 1 races at The Championships today. Few would begrudge Tommy that win in the Queen of the Turf Stakes, and he dedicates it to the memory of his brother Nathan. To the Australian Oaks, and you could have got $2.50 early in the week about Lucia Valentina. Now she's into $2.05, and a very warm favourite for the second of the day's Group 1s.
2.23pm
Clearly punters think on-pace is where to be at Randwick, despite Sidestep's come-from-behind win in the previous race. Solicit, who leads and gives them something to chase, is best backed ahead of the first Group 1 of the day - the Queen of the Turf Stakes. She's $4.60, with Catkins favourite at around $3.50 to win her first Group 1. Red Tracer is also under $5. Gypsy Diamond next best at $7.50.
A general view of the parade ring at Randwick on Saturday. Photo: Brendon Thorne (Getty)
1.45pm
Couldn't be happier about Sportingbet's money back for second promotion at The Championships today. Ygritte made it two seconds from the first three races for Sportal's race-by-race betting guide, so little damage done. Iron filly Eloping won race three, another to lead all the way. In race four, the big money has been for New Zealand filly Bounding, who beat the best open sprinters in Kiwi-land at Group 1 level in January. She was $7.50 earlier this week. Opened up on track at $4. Now she's $3.70 as everything else drifts.
1.16pm
Couple of decent betting goes in race three. The Darley fillies Memorial and Shaumari have been well backed. Shaumari was around $6 when betting opened this week. Now at $3.80. Memorial ran well in the Golden Slipper and has been strongly supported around the $4. Also a longshot move for Queen of Kariba from $26 into $16. Personally think there's value away from the two favourites in Sultry Feeling and Ygritte. In race two, New Zealander Beauty's Beast led and kept on going. May be the start of a big day for Kiwi visitors, with NZ having strong chances in all the Group 1 races later on the card.
Hugh Bowman riding Beauty's Beast celebrates after winning race two. Photo: Brendon Thorne (Getty)
12.40pm
Favourite Veuvelicious won as easy as you like in race one on Day Two of the Championships. Our tip Careless finished second, and no worries if you backed it with Sportingbet. They're giving money back for second in every race at Randwick today. So we live to fight again. Still plenty of sunshine around ahead of race two. The Gai Waterhouse duo Woodbine and Longma are favourites around the $4 mark. Woodbine is the son of former star filly Miss Finland. Longma was excellent in a far weaker race last start.
Damien Oliver riding Veuvelicious wins race one. Photo: Brendon Thorne (Getty)
12.04pm
Lot of market moves ahead of race one at Randwick. Big support during the week for Victorian galloper Veuvelicious. It opened $1.80 after being around the $2.40 mark earlier this week. Now getting back to where it was earlier in the week. Massive move in last few minutes for the Gai Waterhouse-trained Cyclone. It opened around $15 and is now $9 with Sportingbet. Quite like Careless, who has also been supported pre-race, if it runs up to its obvious ability. It was well backed in its first two starts, and had no chance when ridden too far back last start. Ridden closer, he could be a sharp improver. Also like the market support as a guide.
11.30am
Welcome to Day Two of The Championships at Randwick racecourse in Sydney, featuring the $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes on a super nine-race card.
Sydney is right now bathed in sunshine, and the track is a slow (7). I'd expect an update to that later in the day if this weather keeps up. My feel though is it won't get better than a slow (6) regardless. There's been that much rain in Sydney over the past fortnight.
No major scratchings this morning. Both major races, the Sydney Cup (race 7) and the Queen Elizabeth (race 8), are clear.
I'll try to update you ahead of each race with any market moves, and you can find Sportal's race-by-race betting guide here.
So bookmark this page, return often, and hopefully we can find you a winner on a day there's a right Royal flavour in the air.
Not only is the major race named after Her Majesty, but she has a runner in the race - Carlton House.
Off to walk the corgi and have a quick cup of tea, then we'll get down to hopefully winning a king's ransom. Back with an update before the first.