SUPER SATURDAY, widely regarded as one of the best race days on the Australian racing calendar, is shaping to be the most anticipated edition in recent years.

The March 6 race meeting features three Group 1s - the $750,000 Crown Guineas, $1 million Darley Australian Cup and $1 million Newmarket Handicap, with each showdown offering the potential to create true superstars of the turf.

And none more so than the 1600m Crown Guineas for 3YOs featuring the exciting Denman, touted by many as the next superstar of the Australian turf, against Linton from the Lloyd Williams stable.

Whilst Linton is not currently nominated, Williams has indicated that he is likely to pay the $41,250 late fee, due Monday, to take on Denman on Super Saturday.

The grey, which has been drawing comparisons to Williams’ Emirates Melbourne Cup winning Efficient, dominated the field in the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes at Moonee Valley recently in only his third outing.

Should Linton be able to account for Denman in the Crown Guineas, the comparisons to Efficient would begin to take credence. Darley will be hoping for a win to bolster the worth of their already valuable colt.

The Crown Guineas is far from a two-horse race with Peter Moody’s in-form filly Set for Fame and Gai Waterhouse’s Manhattan Rain in contention.

Waterhouse sent Manhattan Rain to barrier practice after the short price favorite balked at the start of the Royal Sovereign Stakes at Randwick, eventually finishing fifth.

Waterhouse has been happy with the colt’s progress, declaring him a match for the favored Denman.

Peter Moody will be looking to get one up on the colts with his flying filly Set for Fame, which has only been out of the top two once from six starts, including a recent win over 1400m in the Group 2 Angus Armanasco Stakes.

Australia’s richest open sprint race, the million dollar Newmarket Handicap, is a wide open affair that has established sprinters pitched against a stellar crop of three-year-olds.

Representing the aged horses is likely top weight and early favourite All Silent (Grahame Begg), 2007 Cox Plate hero El Segundo (Colin Little), Eagle Falls (David Hayes) and two recent Group 1 victors in the Anthony Cummings-trained Turffontein (William Reid Stakes) and David Hayes-trained Nicconi (Coolmore Lightning Stakes).

Second favorite Starspangledbanner (Leon Corstens), a recent $10 million Coolmore acquisition, leads the three-year-old charge alongside Headway and serial bridesmaid Wanted (both Peter Moody).

The Newmarket is also likely to be the last Australian stop for Starspangledbanner, which heads to England to join the stable of Aidan O'Brien, and All Silent whose itinerary is likely to include Dubai and Royal Ascot.

With Denman likely to be relocated to Darley’s Dubai base after the autumn, Super Saturday offers racegoers a fleeting last chance to see some of the turf’s brightest stars.

The Newmarket Handicap isn’t Super Saturday’s only spring board onto the world stage.

Last year’s Darley Australian Cup winner Nicconero journeyed to the Dubai World Cup meeting and 2010’s early equal favourite Heart of Dreams (Mick Price) has nominated for three Dubai races including the Dubai World Cup. A win at Flemington on Super Saturday would secure his ticket abroad.

The Darley Australian Cup will also see the return of 2009 Emirates Melbourne Cup winner Shocking to Flemington, as the gutsy entire seeks to make the transition to a genuine weight-for-age star.

“Super Saturday is the pinnacle of the Flemington Festival of Racing and our biggest day of racing outside the four days of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, with three Group 1 races headlining an all black-type race card,” said Victoria Racing Club CEO, Dale Monteith.

“Punters will have the opportunity to enjoy one of the greatest race days on the Australian calendar, featuring one of the best line-ups we have seen for many years.”

One of Australia’s most loved horses, champion sprinter Takeover Target will make a special appearance as part of the rags-to-riches superstar’s farewell tour of Australia, before retiring to Living Legends.

Takeover Target will say farewell to Flemington by leading out the field for the Newmarket Handicap, a race the gelding won in 2006, and performing an exhibition canter down the Flemington straight.

Tickets to Super Saturday are available from Flemington Customer Service on 1300 727 575 or online at www.flemington.com.au. Admission to the racecourse starts from $30 per adult, with a range of packages available to suit all needs and budgets.

The Flemington Festival of Racing calendar of events:

Wednesday, 3 March Beautiful Girls Fashion Lunch

Hosted by Channel 7’s Melissa Doyle and Natalie Barr from Sunrise, the event will include performances from the Backstreet Boys and Fame The Musical and Autumn Racing Fashion Shows by Myer featuring Myer Racing Ambassador Rebecca Twigley and Menswear Ambassador Kris Smith.

Friday, 5 March Ultra Tune & Ultra Thoroughbreds DOXA Racing Lunch 2010

Featuring special guest speakers Gai Waterhouse and Gerard Whateley, with funds raised for the Doxa Youth Foundation.

Saturday, 6 March Super Saturday

The biggest day on the autumn racing calendar, offering Group 1 racing, fashion and food, and nearly four million dollars in prizemoney. The newly created Festival Precinct, home to Myer Fashions on the Field Couples Competition and the Food & Wine enclosure, will also offer fashion previews from the L’Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival.

Saturday, 13 March Flemington Family Day

Family Day with heaps of free kids’ activities and entertainment including a live performance by Play School’s Justine Clarke, pony rides, an animal farm, face painting, roving clowns and outdoor games.

VICTORIA RACING CLUB MEDIA RELASE

MEDIA CONTACT: Marcus Williams This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 03 8378 0729

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