The opening Saturday of the season also sees increases in prizemoney across the year from Racing NSW and the Australian Turf Club, with minimum Saturday prizemoney increased to $160,000.
This is in addition to increases to all Group and Listed races in NSW and increases to minimum metropolitan midweek and public holiday prizemoney levels which took affect on 1 August this week. TAB Highway and Midway races each Saturday in Sydney rise to $120,000 prizemoney.
Saturday also sees a special celebration of former and retired jockeys in conjunction with the NSW Jockeys Association for Jockeys Reunion Day.
Up to 100 former riders will join throughout the day and form a guard of honour for current day jockeys in the Rosehill Gardens parade ring.
Australian Racing Christian Chaplaincy's Colin Watts will perform a special blessing over the jockeys in Race 7 this Saturday - the NSW Jockeys Association Reunion Handicap.
Australian Turf Club Head of Racing and Wagering, James Ross said: "The [Group 2 $300,000] Toyota Forklifts Missile Stakes on the first Saturday meeting of the new season starts a stellar series of pathway sprint races across coming months ahead of the world's richest race on turf the [$20 million] TAB Everest at Royal Randwick.
"This year as we celebrate and remember a number of retired jockeys we also farewell John Duggan, whose achievements in Sydney racing were quite remarkable and a man who will be greatly missed by the racing community."
Saturday's Gr 2-Toyota Forklifts Missile Stakes has attracted a strong field headed in TAB markets by the heavily-backed Joe Pride trained Big Parade ($3.10-$2.90 favourite on TAB) for jockey Josh Parr. The horse won its latest barrier trial by an amazing 21 lengths.
I Am Me for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace with jockey Tim Clark aboard is $3.10-$3.50. The horse, touted as a TAB Everest contender, has won seven from 13 starts and is unbeaten at Rosehill Gardens.
A number of other spring sprint feature races have seen significant increases in prizemoney, including the Group 3-Concorde Stakes at Royal Randwick on 2 September ($1 million from $500,000 in 2022), Group 2 The Shorts at Royal Randwick on 16 September ($1m) and ACY Securities Premiere Stakes at Royal Randwick on 30 September ($1m).
This Saturday, the ATC in partnership with the Australian Racing Christian Chaplin will host a free BBQ for all strappers and stable staff to thank them for their great work throughout the season.
Jockeys will also wear black armbands for Race 4 – the Vale John Duggan – in memory of the champion jockey who passed away this week.
Saturday's meeting also features the $160,000 Petaluma Premier's Cup Prelude and a 14-horse field over the 1800m trip.