Massive Boxing Day crowd at Royal Randwick to get a Roar deal

Lion’s Roar is attempting to join a select group of horses to successfully defend their Summer Cup titles before what will be one of Royal Randwick’s biggest crowds of the year on Boxing Day.

Tyler Schiller comes back to scale aboard Lion's Roar after winning last year’s Summer Cup at Royal Randwick. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images

Lion’s Roar is attempting to join a select group of horses to successfully defend their Summer Cup titles before what will be one of Royal Randwick’s biggest crowds of the year on Boxing Day.

Australian Turf Club officials are anticipating an attendance in excess of 20,000 for Thursday’s eight-race program with more than half of all $10 general admission tickets already sold.

Randwick’s traditional Boxing Day meeting has become a mecca for the Irish community, backpackers and holiday-makers, as well as regular Sydney punters.

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The expected bumper Summer Cup crowd comes just two months after Randwick hosted its biggest attendance this century when 49,117 were on track for The Everest.

The Boxing Day meeting is the third in less than two weeks at Royal Randwick which has necessitated the rail being shifted out 6m and resulted in some field size restrictions.

The Group 3 $250,000 Schweppes Summer Cup has a field of 12 only from the 2000m start with Rustic Steel topweight on 59kg.

Only one Summer Cup winner has carried more than 58kg to win the race this century and that was I’m Imposing when he won the race for a second successive year in 2014 under 59kg.

Lion’s Roar gets in with 55.5kg, only 0.5kg more than the carried to win the Summer Cup last year.

Lion's Roar wins the Summer Cup in a tight finish! pic.twitter.com/dVcYVY2QOr

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 26, 2023

• Lees finds time for two-pronged Summer Cup tilt

John O’Shea, who trains in partnership with Tom Charlton, hinted that seven-year-old gelding Lion’s Roar, winner of six of his 40 starts and more than $2.3 million prizemoney, might be retired after the Summer Cup.

“I think this could be Lion’s Roar’s last run,’’ said O’Shea, who is aiming for a third successive Summer Cup after winning with Diamil (2022) and Lion’s Roar last year.

“There was merit in Lion’s Roar’s run (The Ingham) the other day. He got flushed out early but still worked to the line ‘good’. Billy (Loughnane, jockey) was happy with the run.’’

Lion’s Roar is trying to join I’m Imposing (2013-14), Donald (1928-29) and Blue Metal (1899-1900) as the only back-to-back Summer Cup winners. King Of The Forest won the race in 1921 and again in 1923.

Meanwhile, ATC will open new areas and spaces for general admission customers, including some Members’ areas, to accommodate the growing Boxing Day crowd.

“The early surge in ticket sales underscores the appeal of Boxing Day at Royal Randwick, as we bring experiences for all our guests,” ATC chief executive Matt Galanos said.

“This day reflects our commitment to delivering memorable, vibrant, and value-driven experiences for a diverse audience, especially younger racegoers.”

Randwick will host next Saturday’s meeting with track manager Michael Wood indicating the rail would be shifted back to the true position.

Originally published as Massive Boxing Day crowd at Royal Randwick to get a Roar deal