The odds on English raider Favorite Moon to salute in Saturday’s $2 million Group 1 Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) have firmed following two early scratchings from the two-mile classic.

Jamie Kah’s brilliant Autumn continued at Randwick on Saturday aboard Group 1 Doncaster Mile winner Cascadian. Australia’s most in-form jockey took to Randwick for the first time aboard the Godolphin galloper and it didn’t take long for her to show the same class we’ve come to expect over the last 12 months. Kah had never raced at Randwick coming in, but she again showed why she is considered one of the best in the business aboard the $14 pop. With all eyes fixed firmly upon All-Star Mile winner Mugatoo on the inside, the pair swept clear out wide to win…

Nature Strip further cemented his status as Australia’s top sprinter by defending his TJ Smith Stakes crown in triumphant fashion at Randwick on Saturday. The now six-time Group 1 winner went up as the $3.30 favourite in Ladbrokes betting earlier in the week, a price punters were happy to jump on ahead of his final duel with second-elect Bivouac. While plenty thought the Godolphin gelding could pounce from midfield, the TJ surprisingly turned into a two-horse race between Chris Waller’s champion speedster and last fortnight’s brilliant Galaxy winner, Eduardo. The latter crossed Nature Strip’s path early to take the front,…

The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace team added another notch to their belt at Randwick on Saturday by taking out the Group 1 Australian Derby with lightly-raced New Zealand import Explosive Jack. Punters were happy to side with the favourites in Montefilia and Sky Lab right before the jump, but it was the three-year-old colt by Jakkalberry who managed to upstage the lot with a very tough run out wide to win right on the line. In what was his only ride of the day, John Allen proved the key as the winning hoop made up a stack of ground…

The money proved dead right at Royal Randwick on Saturday as impressive Godolphin two-year-old Anamoe put paid to his rivals in the Group 1 Inglis Sires’ Produce. The colt by Street Boss firmed into as short as $1.90 with Ladbrokes coming off a last-start second to Stay Inside in the Golden Slipper - a performance punters were happy to back him on with James McDonald in the saddle for the first time. With Tiger Malay and Lightsaber both pushing forward, the pair chose to settle midfield before quickly shifting into top gear at the 300m mark to race clear and…

The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained Quick Thinker returned to the winner’s circle at Randwick on Saturday with a brilliant staying performance to take out the Group 2 Chairman’s Quality (2600m). The So You Think entire claimed his first Group 1 on Day 1 of The Championships last year by a nose to Zebrowksi in the ATC Derby, but he failed to return the same horse during the spring running no better than fifth in two starts in Melbourne. With three runs under his belt and some fitness on his side, the four-year-old relished racing with some sting out of the…