THE thrill and excitement of the David Jones Australian Derby won’t be limited to the track this Saturday with a range of entertainment and promotions on offer to punters attending the classic race day at Royal Randwick.

Punters on course will have a once-in-a-life-time chance to win a $50,000 share in a racehorse chosen by Racing Hall of Fame trainer Bart Cummings at this year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling sales.

Cummings purchased, lot 429 this afternoon at the Newmarket Inglis complex - a colt by Nadeem for $220,000 – and the winner will receive a 1/6th share.

Remaining funds will be spent on two year’s worth of training and insurance for the horse.

To enter the Sydney Autumn Carnival promotion, patrons will need to cut out an entry form from a competition advertisement or download a form from www.sydneyautumncarnival2010.com.au and submit their form on course, prior to 2pm.

Participants must be over 18 years of age, with the winner to be drawn at 2:45pm on Saturday, just before the running of the $303,300 Group 1 Inglis Sires’ Produce Stakes.

The entertainment isn’t strictly limited to punters, with ARIA Award winner Shannon Noll to perform the National Anthem before the David Jones Australian Derby, while Fashion’s on the Field will see Sydney’s style set battle it out for a selection of great prizes.

The Australian pop sensation will perform the National Anthem in his role as ambassador for the “S.T.O.P Foundation”, an anti-obesity charity that will have collectors on course on Saturday to raise funds to help fight childhood obesity.

Fashion’s on the Field is a proud David Jones Australian Derby Day tradition.

A dress code of black and white is the order of the day and this year’s categories of classic race wear male and female will be hotly contested.

Winners will walk away with prizes valued at $7,000 each.

While the entertainment and promotions off the track are certain to captivate the crowds, the feature race will be the real showstopper.

The Australian Derby is one of the top-rated races for three year-olds in the Australian Race Ratings prepared by the Chief Handicappers of Australia.

The 2009 Australian Derby was in the top three events for three year-olds and with five individual Group 1 winners in this year’s event it looks certain to retain its premier position in the upper echelon.

Fancied runners Zabrasive, Shoot Out and Monaco Counsel have drawn favourable barriers in three, nine and four respectively, setting the scene for one of the most anticipated staying races in years.

Crowd favourite Hot Danish will return to Randwick looking to claim his first Group 1 win in the $500,000 T J Smith Stakes while exciting two year-olds More Strawberries, Hinchinbrook and Toorak Toff will battle it out over 1400m in the Inglis Sires’ Produce Stakes.

“David Jones Australian Derby Day kick starts the Royal Randwick carnival with a glamorous theme to the day,” said acting chief executive Darren Pearce.

“We have some of Australia’s finest thoroughbreds set to contest three Group 1 features, plus vital lead in races for the Emirates Doncaster Mile and Schweppes Sydney Cup.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re a keen punter or looking for day out with friends, Royal Randwick will come alive this Saturday and set the pace for the rest of the carnival.”

Gai Waterhouse’s exciting two year-old filly More Strawberries, last start Group 1 winner Wanted and crowd favourite Hot Danish are set to feature on the blockbuster nine-race card.

Some of Australia’s premiere thoroughbreds will contest an exciting day of racing with strong fields set to feature in the $303, 300 Group 1 Inglis Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) and the $500,000 Group 1 Darley T J Smith Stakes (1200m) while Group 1 winners Monaco Consul, Zabrasive, Rock Classic, Shoot Out, and Keep the Peace are among 15 three year-old’s that will battle it out over 2400m for the $1.3 million Group 1 David Jones Australian Derby.

More than $3 million in prize money is on offer across the day, with the $158,800 Group 2 Sydney Morning Herald Chairman’s Hcp over 2600m, the $151,800 Group 2 Lady Sonia McMahon Memorial Stakes over 1200m and the $125,000 Group 3 Asian Racing Federation Trophy over 2000m adding to what is certain to be one of the biggest day’s on the Australian racing calendar.

The Group 1 racing commences when champion Sydney mare Hot Danish will look to claim her first Group 1 win in the $500,000 Darley T J Smith Stakes over 1200m.

In what is shaping up as a classic Sydney v Melbourne battle, the Les Bridge- trained six year-old will battle it out with Victorians Wanted and Mic Mac in the Group 1 dash after final acceptances today.

Hot Danish remains one of Australia’s most popular horses but is certain to face stiff competition, with the Peter Moody-trained Wanted coming off an impressive last start win in the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.

There is added incentive for horses contesting this year’s TJ Smith Stakes with the winner to receive automatic entry into American turf racing’s premiere event, the US $1million dollar Breeders Cup Turf Sprint, also over the 1200m.

Two year-old stars More Strawberries and Hinchinbrook will continue their rivalry when they face off in the Group 1 Inglis Sires’ Produce Stakes over 1400m.

Despite putting on a strong performance in her last two starts, the Gai Waterhouse-trained More Strawberries is yet to break her maiden, but looks set to appreciate the rise in distance.

The Peter Snowden-trained Beaded will look to continue his strong form at Randwick when he contests the Group 2 Lady Sonia McMahon Memorial Stakes over 1200m.

Beaten half a length by Patronyme last start, the four year-old Lonhro mare will be looking to bounce back to the winner’s circle but faces fierce competition from top weight Olonana and the Darren Smith-trained Madame Pedrille.

The Group 2 Sydney Morning Herald Chairman’s Hcp has proved a vital lead up race to the Sydney Cup in the past and this year looks no different with No Wine No Song and Harris Tweed looking to their enhance their prospects for this year’s race.

No Wine No Song is coming off an impressive third behind Littorio and Zavite  in the BMW last weekend, while Harris Tweed, Jessicabeel and The Embassy will look to continue their strong form of late.

The listed Emirates Doncaster Prelude over the famous Randwick Mile is certain to be a keenly contested affair with Mentality, Gold Water and Parfumier among the14 acceptances looking to confirm their place in the Group 1 Emirates Doncaster Mile on Saturday, April 17.

“The David Jones Australian Derby Day is always a wonderful event and looking at the strong fields we have contesting the nine-race card this year,you wouldn’t want to be anywhere else but Royal Randwick this Saturday” said acting  AJC chief executive Darren Pearce.

“The day kicks off a huge three weeks for the AJC, with the Emirates Doncaster Mile on Saturday April 17 and Sydney Cup on April 24th.”

Gates open at 10:15am with the first race scheduled for 11:50am AEST.

Ticket prices - $40 adult/ $7.50 concession or pre-purchase at Ticketek.

For further enquiries, contact Rod Allen - 0419 692 856.