The Sydney Spring Racing Carnival hits fever pitch this afternoon, Saturday October 1, with an all-Black-Type Epsom Handicap Day 2016 card running at Royal Randwick Racecourse.

The weather in Sydney today is forecast to be cloudy, but with zero chance of rain the current Good (4) Randwick track rating is set to stay and favour those runners with good form on firm going.

Randwick Track Report – 01/10/2016

• Rail: +3m Entire Circuit
• Weather: Fine
• Track Type: Turf
• Track Rating: Good (4)
• Penetrometer: 5.01
• Irrigation: Nil
• Rainfall: Nil last 24hrs, 13mm last 7 days

Nine Black-Type races run on Epsom Handicap Day with the action kicking off at 12:20pm (AEST) and continuing through until the last at 5:20pm (AEST).

Punters are treated to a triple-shot of Group 1 racing with the running of the 2016 Flight Stakes (Race 6), 2016 Epsom Handicap (Race 7) and 2016 The Metropolitan (Race 8).

See below for the full Randwick race scratchings and Epsom Handicap Day preview before heading to Ladbrokes.com.au to back your Sydney selections at the right price at the home of Odds Boost (T&Cs apply).

Randwick Scratchings – 01/10/2016

Total Scratchings: 14

Race 1 (12:20pm) – $150,000 Listed Keeneland Gimcrack Stakes (1000m)

No current scratchings

A field of nine unraced two-year-old fillies face off in the first and with only pedigree and trial form to go one, it’s all about the market mover and odds-on favourite Jorda ($1.80) who broke 51^st at her official trial at the track. Godolphin raced, J. Mac on and good gate (4). Value is the rails-drawn Madame Moustache ($16) with Bowman aboard looking to live up to $180,000 purchase price tag.

Race 2 (12:55pm) – $150,000 Listed Newgate Breeders’ Plate (1000m)

#3 Inquiry (13)

#10 Prophet’s Voice (2)

#11 Showtime (14)

Three come out of the colts-and-geldings’ equivalent of the Gimcrack leaving 11 in the mix for this year’s Breeders’ Plate. Some very nice types and subsequent Group 1 winners have kicked off their careers in this race and the money in 2016 is on Condor Heroes ($2.05) to replicate the big 9.3 length trial win at the track on September 19. Khan ($6) accelerated well in his trial and just needs to stay out of trouble from the gate, while Piracy ($4.80) has the speed and could salute from out wider.

Race 3 (1:30pm) – $150,000 Group 3 APN Outdoor Craven Plate (2000m)

#3 Hi World (5)

#4 Raw Impulse (6)

#7 Bring Luck (3)

The meeting’s first Group status event and there are just four runners. It’s Somewhat ($1.45) is odds-on from gate one for John O’Shea and will relish dropping in class and facing just three rivals after the brave George Main third to Winx over the mile here. The danger is the Chris Waller-trained Spiritjim ($2.60), but with four runners anything can win.

Read out full 2016 Craven Plate Betting Preview & Tips.

Race 4 (2:05pm) – $125,000 Listed TAB Dulcify Quality (1600m)

#6 Bring Me The Bling (5)

#9 Not To Be Caught (9)        

This mile handicap is wide open from a betting perspective with five of the eight remaining runners under $10 for the win. On the rails Octavian Augustus ($3.40) is the favourite and will strip fitter four runs in with Williams aboard, but Earth ($5.50) shapes up as a big hope after breaking maiden status in Newcastle last time out.

Race 5 (2:40pm) – $300,000 Group 2 The Star Roman Consul (1200m)

#3 El Divino (2)

#Guard Of Honour (4)

Six three-year-old sprinters face off in this year’s Roman Consul Stakes including the Godolphin-raced Golden Rose winner Astern ($1.45) who will take some betting after the impressive Group 1 win over 1400m last time out. Golden Slipper winner Capitalist ($3) is out to stop him, but his stablemate Russian Revolution ($10) is unbeaten and the danger at double-figures.

Check out our full 2016 Roman Consul Stakes Tips & Preview.

Race 6 (3:20pm) – $500,000 Group 1 Sydney Airport Flight Stakes (1600m)

#2 Omei Sword (7)

#4 Quick Feet (8)

The day’s first Group 1 lost the drawcard contender Omei Sword but there’s still an odds-on fancy in this small field of six three-year-old fillies – some pressing claims for a possible 2016 Crown Oaks bid – with David Vandyke’s Group 1 ATC Sires’ winner Yankee Rose coming off the Golden Rose sixth first-up. Waterhouse dominates the results in this race and has Global Glamour ($4.60) in the mix, while Skylight Glow ($7) is doing everything right and will be on speed and out for the upset.

Follow the link for the complete 2016 Flight Stakes Tips & Betting Preview.

Race 7 (4:00pm) – $1,000,000 Group 1 TAB Epsom Handicap (1600m)

No current scratchings

The meeting’s marquee race and all 13 original acceptors are still in the mix. Four of the runners battle for top spot in the latest Epsom Handicap betting markets: Hauraki ($5.50) for Godolphin coming off the George Main second to Winx at the track / distance; market mover Fabrizio ($6) who is a progressive type prepared by the race’s most successful trainer Gai Waterhouse; Kingston Town Stakes winner McCreery ($6) for Chris Waller who has won the race for the past three years; and Palentino ($6.50) out to break the hoodoo of Victorians in the race on the back of a Makybe Diva win at Flemington.

Read a detailed 2016 Epsom Handicap Betting Tips & Preview.

Race 8 (4:40pm) – $750,000 Group 1 McGrath Estate Agents Metropolitan (2400m)

No current scratchings

The final Group 1 on the card has all 13 original acceptors ready to face off over the mile and a half before a possible trip south for the Spring Cups. Money rolling in hard and fast for Sydney Cup and Melbourne Cup placegetter Who Shot Thebarman ($4.60), but he’s at top kilos. Waller also has the flying Antonio Giuseppe ($6.50) on the quick seven day turnaround and in stakes’ company for the first time, while Magic Hurricane ($9.50) is under double figures to go back-to-back in the race.

See our insider 2016 The Metropolitan Tips & Betting Preview.

Race 9 (5:20pm) – $300,000 Group 2 Santos Coffee Premiere Stakes (1200m)

#1 Under The Louvre (1)

#15 Russian Revolution (10)

The card closer is a quality sprint that has 13 runners still in the mix led in betting by All Aged Stakes winner English ($3) out to improve on a first-up fifth in The Shorts. Takedown ($9) won that day and is at a good price to go back-to-back from the inside alley now, while Randwick specialist Southern Legend ($5.50) is out wide but at his pet track.

Read a detailed 2016 Premiere Stakes Betting Preview.

*All odds quoted are provided by Ladbrokes.com.au and subject to change