By ROY ASPINALL
SPORTINGBET Park, Sandown will host a bumper race meeting on Australia Day, Monday 26 January on the Hillside track.
The meeting, which is usually held at Caulfield, features two Group 3 events and three listed races.
Caulfield is in the final stages of renovation and racing is planned to resume there on Saturday, February 14 with the running of the Group 1 $402,000 C. F. Orr Stakes (1400 metres).
In celebration of Australia Day, jockeys riding the top weight in each race will be wearing Australian flag racing silks.
Local to the Dandenong community, Creativity Australia’s ‘With One Voice’ Dandenong choir will be performing the national anthem before the main race. ‘With One Voice’ welcomes and showcases people aged nine to 90, from all faiths, cultures and backgrounds.
The Australia Day meeting will feature the Group 3 $150,750 Sportingbet, powered by William Hill, Blue Diamond Preview (1000 metres) for two-year-old fillies and the Listed $120,500 Sportingbet, powered by William Hill, Blue Diamond Preview (1000 metres) for two-year-old colts and gelding. These are the first two of four major Blue Diamond lead-ups with two Preludes to be run over 1100 metres at Caulfield as part of the reopening meeting on Saturday, February 14.
The Group 1 $1,015,000 Sportingbet, powered by William Hill, Blue Diamond Stakes (1200 metres), Victoria’s richest race for two-year-old’s, will be run at Caulfield on Saturday, February 28.
Contenders will include star filly and current favourite Fontiton and Qatar Racing’s talented Thurlow, whilst Inglis Debutant Stakes winner Of The Brave, a half-brother to Let’s Elope, will represent the colts.
Also featured is the Group 3 $150,750 Manfred Stakes (1300 metres) for three-year-olds and the Listed $120,500 W. J. Adams Stakes (1000 metres) and the Listed $120,000 John Dillon Stakes (1400 metres).
The Listed $120,000 John Dillon Stakes (1400 metres) is Heat 9 of the Swettenham Stud Summer Championship. The final, over 1600 metres and worth $100,000, will be run at Sportingbet Park, Sandown on Saturday 7 February.
The 7 February meeting is also designated as the Greater Dandenong Race Day.
Attractive dining packages are available on Monday, January 26 and bookings can be made by ringing 9257 7100.
Sportingbet Park Sandown is truly an entertainment venue for the entire community to be proud of and is a great racing venue.
