This Saturday the Royal Randwick Racecourse will host the latest Sydney Autumn Carnival meeting featuring an excellent line-up of Group races including the $125,000 Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes (1200m).

Eighteen gallopers make up the 2011 Southern Cross Stakes nominations including a number of Group winners and placegetters from the spring.

Top-rated entries heading towards this year’s Southern Cross Stakes include Beneteau who is also nominated for the Royal Sovereign Stakes at the same meeting, Brilliant Light, the John Thompson-trained Count Encosta and Pinwheel.

The Peter Snowden-trained Lonhro five-year-old Pinwheel is sure to start one of the favourites in the Southern Cross Stakes betting markets at Luxbet following their first-up win in the Listed Canterbury BMW Classic (1100m) on January 14.

Other notable Southern Cross Stakes entries include David Payne’s consistent Elusive Quality five-year-old Cardinal Virtue, the Chris Waller-trained Shellscrape and Trader representing trainer Anthony Cummings.

The 16-starter Southern Cross Stakes final field will be out tomorrow and published here at Races.com.au followed by the form guide and race betting tips so stay tuned.

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2011 Southern Cross Stakes Nominations