Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could add Royal Randwick visit to Sydney itinerary

COULD Prince Harry and his wife-to-be, Meghan Markle, be special guests for the $13 million The Everest at Royal Randwick on October 13?

COULD Prince Harry and his wife-to-be, Meghan Markle, be special guests for the $13 million The Everest at Royal Randwick on October 13?

It might sound a fanciful idea but the royal couple plan to be in Sydney for the opening of the Invictus Games from October 20-27 for which Prince Harry is patron.

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There are some synergies between the Invictus Games and the Australian Turf Club after it was announced this week that the ATC is assisting in fundraising racedays leading up to the Games.

Also, Royal Randwick is one of only two racecourses in the world which has “Royal” in its name — the other is Royal Ascot in England.

The timing could be just right for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to add a day at the Royal Randwick races to their itinerary in October. Picture: Getty Images

Records under microscope

CHAMPION jockey Damien Oliver’s win on Seabrook in the Champagne Stakes last week highlighted the inaccuracies of racing records.

Oliver, a Hall of Fame jockey, has ridden over 100 Australian Group 1 winners but his exact tally has been in dispute.

After consultation with form experts and turf historians, Gary Crispe and Malcolm McLaren, it has been established Oliver’s record of major race wins now sits at 109.

This gives Oliver more Group 1 wins than any other Australian jockey in racing history — even George Moore.

It had been widely believed Moore had won 119 Group 1 races in this country but a study of his major race wins shows that races like the Chipping Norton Stakes, QTC Sires Produce Stakes and Flight Stakes did not hold Group 1 status when the graded race classification system was introduced in 1979.

Champion jockey Damien Oliver took his Group 1 haul to 109 after his win on Seabrook in last Saturday’s Champagne Stakes at Royal Randwick. Picture: AAP

This reduces Moore’s tally of Group 1 wins to 104. He is the only other Australian jockey to have ridden more than a century of major race winners. The revised list has Jim Cassidy on 98, Roy Higgins 90 and Shane Dye 89.

Tommy Smith’s training record of 282 Group 1 wins is also now in question with a revised list reducing his tally to 254 major wins. The same applies to the final tally of majors for Bart Cummings and other trainers.

Confused? Well, the Australian Racing Board’s Barry O’Farrell has decided enough is enough and has formed a panel of experts led by Crispe to look back at all of Australia’s major races and determine a definitive list of Group 1 records that will become the official record of achievement.

Winx set for three-peat

CHAMPION Winx will equal another of Black Caviar’s revered records when she claims her third successive Horse of the Year title.

Winx was at very short odds to win the award before her Queen Elizabeth Stakes triumph earlier this month but there is no betting now.

Sydney’s super mare completed her third successive unbeaten season and extended her winning streak to 25 races, ensuring she earns Australian racing’s ultimate honour again when the Horse of the Year awards are announced in September.

Black Caviar (2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13) won three Horse of the Year titles in a row, a feat matched only by Sunline (1999-2000, 2000-01, 2001-02).

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Roman Son (race 9, Hawkesbury) was exceptional at Rosehill last start, putting a four lengths margin on his rivals over 1800m. The runner-up that day, Lovani, has since won to frank the form. Roman Son is third-up and goes to 2100m tomorrow which should suit. Drawn ideally in barrier two, should get the run of the race and his finishing speed is superior to his rivals.

Originally published as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could add Royal Randwick visit to Sydney itinerary