Record nominations for The Championships

Defending champion Winx headlines entries for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at The Championships.

A record number of nominations have been taken for The Championships in Sydney.

Champion Winx has been nominated for the $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), a race she won last year, while she also holds an entry for the Group One Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) for fillies and mares on the same day – April 14.

The richest race over the two days of The Championships is the weight-for-age Queen Elizabeth which has attracted 121 nominations.

The $3 million Doncaster Mile (1600m) on April 7, has 181 entries.

A total of 1454 nominations have been received for the 10 Championships races, 75 more than last year.

This year will be the fifth running of The Championships at Randwick.

“The Championships has now established its own place on the world stage and these events are the undisputed grand finals of racing in this country,” Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys said.

“It’s also very pleasing to see a marked increase in interest from international stables this year after nearly 40 overseas horses were nominated.”

International visitor Polarisation won last year’s Sydney Cup for Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby.

Polarisation is not among nominations for this year’s Sydney Cup but Appleby has Rare Rhythm entered for the $2 million 3200m-race and Brave Zolo and Toormore for the Doncaster Mile.

Twenty-four Japanese-trained horses figure among the almost 40 northern hemisphere-trained horses nominated while there are two Japanese horses, Admire Winner and Satono Rasen, entered by the Chris Waller stable.

Master Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien has five horses nominated, with Deauville and War Decree entered for both the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Doncaster.

He has Spirit Of Valor and Washington DC nominated for the $2.5 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) while War Secretary holds a Doncaster Mile nomination.

“It is pleasing to see such strong interest in these nominations from major overseas racing and breeding operations such as Coolmore, U Carrot Farm and Silk Racing,” Australian Turf Club co-acting chief executive, James Heddo, said.

The $2 million Australian Derby (2400m) has 155 nominations while the $1 million Australian Oaks has 148.