7RACING

Epsom Day and Turnbull Stakes Day live and free on Saturday

Spring Racing kicks up a gear on the Seven Network this Saturday, with live and free coverage of the best thoroughbred action from Turnbull Stakes Day at Flemington and Epsom Day at Royal Randwick.

Saturday’s racing is highlighted by the $1.5 million Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m), Group 1 Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) and Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick, and the $1 million Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.

Seven’s coverage begins at 12.00pm AEST on Channel 7, 7two and 7plus and will be led by Australia’s pre-eminent sport broadcaster, Bruce McAvaney, with fan favourite Jason Richardson. Also joining racing’s #1 commentary team is Emma Freedman, daughter of five-time Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Lee Freedman.

Freedman will anchor Seven’s Sydney Spring Racing coverage, kicking off with Epsom Day on Saturday alongside Katelyn Mallyon, Gerard Middleton and Sky Racing’s Lizzie Jelfs trackside at Randwick.

The Turnbull Stakes is headlined by Sydney star Verry Elleegant, attempting to defend her Turnbull crown to take to her 10^th Group 1. However, the champion mare is up against exciting galloper Incentivise while Cox Plate hero Sir Dragonet, who charged home behind Incentivise in the Makybe Diva Stakes, looks to be in for a very good preparation.

Star trainer Gai Waterhouse is looking for her eighth win in the Epsom Handicap with leading hope Riodini from a wide barrier and Discharged. Doncaster winner Cascadian is already proven at the Randwick Mile with placegetters Icebath and Dalasan chasing elusive Group 1 wins, while champion trainer Chris Waller has four of the past eight editions and saddles up five runners including last start Bill Ritchie winner Atishu and multiple Group 1 winner Hungry Heart.

In the Metropolitan Handicap, Group 1 winner Montefilia is looking to become the first mare since Coco Cobanna (2000) to win, while promising import Zeyrek gains a start and is ready to peak third up for Team Hawkes. 

Seven this week announced the very best Australian thoroughbred racing will now be shown live and free every Saturday of the year as part of the most significant free-to-air television deal in the history of the sport.

The historic, long-term agreement to 2027 with Racing Victoria, Racing NSW, Racing Queensland and Racing SA firmly cements Seven as Australia’s Home of Racing, and means Australians will enjoy 52 weeks of elite racing across the nation.

Over the coming weeks, Seven will broadcast Spring Racing’s finest thoroughbred action from around Australia, including the Caulfield Cup, Everest, Cox Plate and Golden Eagle.

The Seven Network is proud to announce the very best Australian thoroughbred racing will now be shown live and free every Saturday of the year as part of the most significant free-to-air television deal in the history of the sport.

Seven has partnered with Racing Victoria, Racing NSW, Racing Queensland and Racing SA in the historic, long-term deal that unites Australian thoroughbred racing like never before.

The agreement to 2027 firmly cements Seven as Australia’s Home of Racing, and means Australians will enjoy 52 weeks of elite racing across the nation, including:

• • NSW – every Group 1 and feature race, highlighted by the Golden Slipper, The Championships, The Everest and Golden Eagle
• • Victoria – the very best of Melbourne’s time-honoured events headlined by the All-Star Mile, Caulfield Guineas, Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate
• • Queensland – the Summer and Winter Carnivals, featuring the highly coveted Queensland Oaks, Queensland Derby and Stradbroke Handicap
• • South Australia – the May Carnival and the jewels in its crown, the South Australian Derby, South Australian Oaks and Goodwood Handicap.

Seven has a long and proud history of bringing horse racing to Australian television viewers and I’m very pleased to announce this innovative, comprehensive long-term agreement.

It is great news for Seven, our partners, the fans and horse racing in general, and it reinforces our position as the home of the best sport on television, all live and free.

James Warburton, Seven West Media Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer