Today the action of the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival steps it up a notch with Warwick Stakes Day 2016 at Royal Randwick Racecourse headlined by the return of Australia’s champion racehorse Winx.

Currently the course proper at Randwick is rated a Soft (5) and with no chance of rain today that rating is set to stay if not improve slightly across the exciting nine-race program.

Randwick Track Report – 20/08/2016

• Rail: +3m Entire Circuit
• Penetrometer: 5.36
• Weather: Fine
• Track Type: Turf
• Track Rating: Soft (5)
• Irrigation: Nil
• Rainfall: 0.4mm last 24 hours, 0.4mm last 7 days

Racing kicks off at Randwick at 12:00pm (AEST) and continues through until the card closer at 5:00pm (AEST).

Five Group races highlight the line-up including the meeting’s feature event running as Race 7 – the $250,000 Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m) where the Chris Waller-trained Winx is odds-on favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au to post her 10^th win on the trot first-up.

See below for the full Warwick Stakes Day program and early scratchings before heading to Ladbrokes.com.au to back your favourites at the home of Odds Boost!

Randwick Scratchings – 20/08/2016

Total Scratchings: 7

Race 1 (12:00pm) – $85,000 Moraitis Communications Handicap (1400m)

#2 Jungle Edge (7)

#7 Conarchie (3)

The day opens with this BenchMark 83 where only seven runners remain in the mix. Firming favourite approaching odds-on territory is Super Tycoon ($2.10), the Gosford-trained galloper coming off three straight wins including over this track / distance in late June. The last was over 1350m at Rosehill on July 30, he’s been freshened-up since that four length romp and only needs to handle the 60kg to win again here.

Race 2 (12:35pm) – $85,000 The Randwick Mayor’s Cup (2400m)

#1 Braces (3)

#9 Celestial Sky (2)

The second on the card is a mile and a half BenchMark 72 for stayers coming off a winter prep, only seven in this line-up after two early scratchings. Markets are led by two horses battling for favouritism – Richard Of Yorke ($2.70) and Lie Direct ($2.80). The first is a lightly-raced European import for Waller debuting at the track, while the latter looks hard to beat using an apprentice claim and coming off a win at the track / distance by an imposing nine lengths.

Race 3 (1:10pm) – $60,000 TAB Highway Plate (1600m)

#14 Epinician (5)

#18 Hooge (18)

Big field still engaged for this Class 3 clash with 16 left to fight it out. Favourite at $46.0 is Grand Rouge who is drawn wide but who comes off two thirds in similar company from the winter. Looks to be value in the early market mover Iona Nicconi ($26 into $11) however who will fly at the light weight after carting 60kg to a third at Muswellbrook on August 7.

Race 4 (1:45pm) – $125,000 Group 3 Primo Smallgoods Up And Coming Stakes (1300m)

No current scratchings

The first of the day’s Group races still features the original nine acceptors, the best fancied of the three-year-olds engaged in the handicap clash at $3.40 is Derryn having his first Sydney start. Plenty of other livewire chances and value bets however including The Rosebud winner Thronum ($4) and the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Taj Mahal ($6.50) who is proven at the 1300m.

Race 5 (2:20pm) – $175,000 Group 2 Alpha Flight Services Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m)

No current scratchings

The meeting’s first of two Group 2 features is this sprint for three-year-old fillies where the 11 original final acceptors are all still in the mix. This is the perfect season kick-off for Flight Stakes hopes and the bookies have the returning Chris Waller-trained Omei Sword ($2.30) as the one to beat. She’s yet to win in stakes’ company and will improve over more distance, but should be fit enough to run well off a couple of lead-up trials. Value in her Magic Night Stakes conqueror from the autumn Calliope ($5.50) and the promising Manaya ($4).

Race 6 (3:00pm) – $125,000 Group 3 Bob Ingham Show County Quality (1200m)

No current scratchings

The Black-Type racing continues with this sprint clash that has a small but class field of nine runners led in betting by the rails-drawn Le Romain ($3.70), Kris Lees’ Randwick Guineas winner returning to racing at his pet track. It’s a wide open market and the other major players including Missile Stakes winning mare Tycoon Tara ($5) and third in the same lead-up over the same track / distance Mount Nebo ($6.50).

Race 7 (3:40pm) – $250,000 Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m)

No current scratchings

The race all fans are tuning in for still has the seven acceptors, the small field credited to Winx scaring off her rivals as the champion mare looks to continue her dominance at the track and distance and at weight-for-age. The returning Cox Plate hero has won her last nine straight, is first-up specialist, has trialled well and has Bowman aboard. Won’t be beaten but the likes of Lucia Valentina ($6) and Rebel Dane ($8.50) are there to try.

Race 8 (4:20pm) – $125,000 Group 3 Forum Group Toy Show Quality (1300m)

#7 Frill Seeking (5)

The only early scratching from the day’s Group races leave a nine starter field for the penultimate event where markets have the relatively unknown Dixie Blossoms ($3.80) as favourite. Waller presents the big dangers with his last start winning mares Elle Lou ($4.20) and Pioneering ($5).

Race 9 (5:00pm) – $85,000 Sydney Markets Foundation Handicap (1000m)

No current scratchings

The full 13 original acceptors are still in the mix for the card closer, the short-distance sprint tipped as a battle between Southern Speed ($3.70) with the outside alley to overcome as the four-year-old returns after winning three straight in the autumn and the John O’Shea-trained Slipper performer from last year Haptic ($3.20) drawn better mid field with James McDonald riding.

*All odds quoted are Fixed Win from Ladbrokes.com.au and subject to change