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Racing NSW and the Australian Turf Club today announced that the $2 million Schweppes Sydney Cup has been rescheduled for Saturday, 22 April 2017 at Royal Randwick.

The decision to reschedule the race from The Championships Day 2 to Saturday 22 April follows extensive consultation by the Australian Turf Club and Racing NSW with trainers and connections.

The Schweppes Sydney Cup will be the centrepiece of the revised Saturday meeting, which has been transferred from Warwick Farm to Royal Randwick to accommodate for the Group 1 event over 3200m.

Entries for the Sydney Cup will comprise of runners from last Saturday’s no-race that again accept for the race on 22 April 2017. These horses are exempt from any ballot that may occur, with the race also being re-opened for supplementary entries. This will provide for a field of up to 14 runners, with supplementary entries replacing those original acceptors from Saturday, 8 April 2017 that do not start on 22 April 2017.

Australian Turf Club Chief Executive, Mr Darren Pearce said the Club and Racing NSW officials had worked diligently with participants over the past 48 hours to ensure the race would not be lost.

“We wanted to give all entrants a chance to compete for the $2 million and we believe 22 April strikes a balance between varying views of owners and trainers, whilst achieving a competitive field size for punters and racegoers.”

Weights for the race will be the same as those which applied to the original final acceptors on Tuesday, 4 April 2017. Any supplementary entries will be weighted by the Racing NSW handicapping panel with a limit weight of 51.5kg being applied.

The closing date for supplementary entries is midday on Monday, 17 April 2017 with race acceptances due by 9am on Wednesday, 19 April 2017. Revised conditions including a priority ballot order and supplementary entry conditions can be viewed at - www.racingnsw.com.au

“We believe running the Sydney Cup two weeks after the no-race is the fairest outcome for all participants with those included in the no-race to receive compensatory payments,” said Racing NSW Chief Executive, Mr Peter V’landys AM.

A $15,000 payment will be made to all horses that faced the starter on Saturday, 8 April 2017 and do not start on Saturday, 22 April 2017.

Further, a $4,000 payment will be made to the connections of all horses that faced the starter in the no-race on Saturday, 8 April 2017 and contest the Sydney Cup on 22 April 2017.

Racing NSW has been granted permission from the Department of Agriculture to proceed with the Easter Monday meeting at Canterbury Park on 17 April 2017, with the visiting UK entrants Penglai Pavilion and Polarisation remaining in special isolation whilst the meeting is conducted.

“We have ensured the two visiting UK horses can still be safely stabled at Canterbury Park with certain conditions being adhered to whilst the Easter Monday race meeting is held,” said Mr V’landys.

Racing NSW and the ATC agreed that the ANZAC Day meeting scheduled for Royal Randwick on Tuesday 25 April will remain at Randwick reflecting the importance of the day, with ATC officials to determine a new rail position following the 22 April meeting.