Howden Australian Guineas Day featuring Group 1 action and free Fareground fun

The Chris Waller-trained Riff Rocket is aiming to become just the third horse in three decades to win the Penfolds Victoria Derby and Howden Australian Guineas after Hitotsu (2022) and Mahogany (1994) were able to successfully complete the double. He will face tough opposition including Group 1 winners King Colorado and Quintessa and the Penfolds Victoria Derby runner up Apulia.

Other feature races on the day include the $300,000 Group 2 TAB Blamey Stakes (1600m) which offers automatic entry into the All-Star Mile at Caulfield on Saturday 16 March and the Inglis Sprint (1200m), which will be worth a record $1 million and will have a big field of 19 horses.

The Flemington Fareground will continue to be a drawcard for eventgoers. The resort-style activation will offer up free family-friendly entertainment all day including carnival-themed rides, face painting, pony rides, lawn games and live music. For adults, there is a special party hour in the Fareground from 2:30pm to 3:30pm with $15 cocktails on offer.

The 2006 Australian Guineas winner and fan favourite Apache Cat will be on-course to meet racegoers alongside fellow Living Legend Silent Witness. The legends will parade in the Mounting Yard after races 2 and 4 with people able to get photos with them at the race day stalls.

VRC Chief Executive Steve Rosich said the club was looking forward to a spectacular day of racing.

“There is a lot of excitement building ahead of this year’s edition of the Australian Guineas and we are delighted to welcome Howden as the naming rights partner of the day and the feature race as an official partner of the Victoria Racing Club,” Mr Rosich said.

“Howden Australian Guineas Day is a sensational day of elite racing with one of the strongest fields for the Australian Guineas in recent years. Off the track, the Flemington Fareground proved to be a popular spot for racegoers at our most recent race day on Black Caviar Lightning Day and it will again be the place to be this Saturday with free family friendly entertainment.”

Howden Australian Guineas Day also kickstarts the VRC’s partnership with the Good Friday Appeal (GFA) with racegoers able to show their support via Ticketmaster and an on-course raffle with prizes valued at more than $10,000. Race six on the program, The Good Friday Appeal Plate, will be a nod to the appeal with GFA representatives to present the winning memento.

One of this year’s faces of the GFA, Emily, will be on-course with her family enjoying the fun activities in the Flemington Fareground. Ten-year-old Emily was diagnosed with a rare type of brain tumour called a ganglioglioma and is likely going to have this tumour for the rest of her life.

General Admission tickets are $30 with children under 12 are admitted free to Flemington.

The 2024 Flemington Racing Spectacular continues next weekend with Super Saturday, featuring the Yulong Newmarket Handicap, on Saturday 9 March and concludes with TAB Australian Cup Day on Saturday 30 March.

Gates open at 11:00am with Race 1 at 12:15pm and the last race at 5:35pm.

Howden Australian Guineas Day – Race Program