Over the past six Saturday’s a record $46.1m in prizemoney was distributed making this Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival the best since The Star Championships had begun in 2014.

• The new darling of the Australian turf Pride of Jenny gave a spectacular front-running display for a 6½ length victory in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes for Declan Bates and trainer Ciaron Maher.
• A record eighth win for legendary trainer Gai Waterhouse, and her second with Adrian Bott, in the $5m TAB Golden Slipper with filly Lady of Camelot when ridden by Blake Shinn.
• The emergence of Celestial Legend, in taking out the $4m The Star Doncaster Mile for master Royal Randwick trainer Les Bridge, young gun Tyler Schiller and Hong Kong-based owner Bon Ho.
• Sydney’s 13-time champion trainer Chris Waller had Zougotcha win the Group 1s Coolmore Classic and Queen of The Turf Stakes and Riff Rocket the Rosehill Guineas and Australian Derby.
• International jockey Andrea Atzeni with an emotional win aboard Circle of Fire in the $2m Schweppes Sydney Cup for trainer Ciaron Maher.
• Trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman took out dual Group 1s in the $3m TJ Smith Stakes with Chain of Lightning and Damien Lane and $1m Australian Oaks with Autumn Angel.
• Godolphin’s Broadsiding with James McDonald took out the $1m Champagne Stakes, and Magic Time for Grahame Begg the $1.5m All Aged Stakes in the Carnival’s two final feature races.

Over the 60 races of the Carnival, the leading trainer on a 3-2-1 basis was Chris Waller on 53 points, ahead of Ciaron Maher 29, while jockey James McDonald won on 47 from Tommy Berry 30.

James McDonald was also leading Group 1-winning jockey on six ahead of Damian Lane on two, while trainer Chris Waller won five Group 1 races, ahead of three others trainers equal on two.

This Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival featured 18 Group 1 races among 48 Black Type events across 58 races hosted by Racing NSW and the Australian Turf Club, chiefly at Randwick and Rosehill.

Eighteen races were conducted over the Carnival with prizemoney of $1 million or more, including the $5m TAB Golden Slipper at Rosehill and the $5m Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick.

A total of 714 runners competed for three weeks at Rosehill Gardens and three weeks at Royal Randwick, including the 11th running of The Star Championships at Royal Randwick on 6 and 13 April.

This fell just short of the previous record number of runners (723) set last year after two races were abandoned on Saturday, over 7,000 owners attended across the six weeks – another record.

The Australian Turf Club Head of Racing and Wagering, James Ross said, “the 2024 Sydney Autumn Carnival has been one of the best in recent times, with a record number of 942 acceptances.”

“Horses, jockeys and trainers from around the world came to compete with our very best in Chris Waller, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, and Ciaron Maher, while our star local riders met the likes of Ryan Moore, Zac Purton, Andrea Atzeni and Tom Marquand.”

“We especially thank all racing participants for their support of Sydney’s world-class racing at Rosehill Gardens and Royal Randwick at this record-breaking Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival of 2024.

“It’s fantastic to conclude with the National Pony Racing Finals and we’re proud of our effort with Thoroughbred Industry Careers and The Agency to provide a platform for the next racing stars.”

In addition, Territory Express for Kembla trainer Paul Niceforo and apprentice jockey Zac Lloyd won the $1m Polytrack Provincial-Midway Championships Final at Royal Randwick.

Asgarda trained at Wagga Wagga by Doug Gorrel and ridden by Kayla Nisbet, won the $1m Newhaven Park Country Championships Final, while Zougotcha for Chris Waller easily took out the Queen of The Autumn with 42 points.

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