GAI Waterhouse will be looking for a clean sweep of the feature races at Royal Randwick this Saturday with three of her highly-rated runners accepting today.

Super colt Manhattan Rain leads a quality field for the $151,800 Group 2 Royal Sovereign Stakes (1200m) for three year old colts and geldings. He will be facing stiff competition from stable mate Viking Legend, John Thompson’s Gathering, Peter Snowden’s Demerit and David Payne’s More Than Great in the nine-strong field.

The race at set weights signals the start of the Autumn campaign for most of the starters who represent the cream of Sydney’s three year old colts and geldings.

Youthful Jack won the Royal Sovereign Stakes last year and previous winners include Lonhro, Shaftesbury Avenue, Best Western, Coronation Day, Guineas, Exceed and Excel, Dance Hero.

“This is a very high quality field and will give the racing public a great indication of where some of these horses are at this early stage of their preparations as the Autumn Carnival at Royal Randwick is just around the corner,” Said Australian Jockey Club acting CEO Darren Pearce.

“These are some of the best three year old colts and geldings in the country and they are starting their Autumn campaigns in what will be a great day of racing at Royal Randwick.”

Highly-rated youngster More Joyous heads the field for Waterhouse in the $151,800 Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes for three year old fillies at set weights (1200m).

She will be challenged by Thompson’s Run For Naara and So Anyway and Snowden’s Trim in the 10-horse field.

David Payne’s Rock Me Baby won the Light Fingers Stakes last year and Forensics the year before.

Other previous winners include Emancipation, Skating, Joanne, Whisked, Magic Flute, Staging, Assertive Lass, Shinakima, Gold Edition.

Waterhouse’s Montana Flyer has one run under her belt and that may give her the edge in the $151,800 Group 2 Breeders Classic (1200m) for mares.

She faces Clarry Connor’s Court and Darren Smith’s impressive Madame Pedrille in the 11-strong field.

Les Bridge’s Hot Danish won the Breeders Classic last year and other winners include Gallant Tess, Private Steer and Spinning Hill.

Gates open at 11.30am, the first race is 1.05pm and tickets prices are $15 for adults and $5 for pensioners.

AUSTRALIAN JOCKEY CLUB MEDIA RELEASE

CONTACT: Rod Allen 0419 692 856.