Sydney Carnival Racing Tour

April 2015



Including Doncaster Handicap & Queen Elizabeth Stakes

DISCOVER THE RACING WORLD AMBASSADOR TRAVEL 2 An Invitation

The “Championships” Throw in some fun in “good ‘ole Sydney town” and at Randwick in April this week promises to be one that you won’t forget. is now recognised as an international racing The tour is structured in a way that allows you event and fortunately it alternatives to the full itinerary and you can mix and is in our own backyard. match any itineraries to suit. Should none of these itineraries fit in with your requirements, contact the It would be wonderful friendly staff at Ambassador Travel who are only too if you could join me to happy to assist with your individual requests. experience the excitement of both race days at Royal World standard racing in a world class city. I look Randwick. What a thrill to cheer Australia’s best forward to sharing your company in April for our against the international raiders! Sydney Carnival Racing Tour. Our tour begins and ends on a high, complemented David Fowler by an in depth tour of several of our leading nurseries Radio Tab Principal Racecaller in the Hunter Valley and the chance to meet Gai Waterhouse and visit her stables.

Airline Hotel | The Star Your airfares are based on Qantas group fares, but The Star is the official hotel and major sponsor of the should you wish to depart from any other city than 2015 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival. It is centrally those listed, we are able to offer special fares from all located in Pyrmont overlooking Darling Harbour and Australian Qantas ports. is only a short walk to Sydney’s CBD. Flights are subject to availability at the time of The Star features two gaming floors, eight bars, booking. Please contact one of our experienced travel seven restaurants and 351 hotel rooms thus earning consultants for assistance. its reputation as Sydney’s premier entertainment destination. Racing Highlights 3

Every great racing city needs a great racing event that brings together the best of the best. The Championships, an initiative of Racing NSW, to be hosted by the Australian Turf Club, gives Sydney that event. Now into its second year, the race series comprises 10 Grand Final races, including 8 Group One events staged over two Saturdays, and offering in excess of AU$20 million in prize money. It is a dazzling array of time honoured races across each age and distance category. The Championships is made up of 10 iconic races spread across each age and distance category offering some of the world’s best thoroughbred racing contests. Races include the AU$2.5 million TJ Smith Stakes and the AU$3 million Doncaster Mile, both on Saturday 4 April and of course the cornerstone race, the AU$4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday 11 April: the world’s richest 2000m turf race. In 2015 The Championships will also feature the final of the inaugural Country and Provincial Championship Series. Created to support and promote racing in the country and provincial areas, this exciting development will ensure that horses from across NSW are part of the grand final fever of The Championships. The Championship Races Day 1 The Championship Races Day 2 Saturday 4 April 2015 Saturday 11 April 2015

Race Name Prizemoney Distance Race Name Prizemoney Distance

The Star Doncaster $3,000,000 1600m Longines Queens $4,000,000 2000m Mile (GR1) Elizabeth Stakes (GR1) Darley TJ Smith $2,500,000 1200m Schweppes Sydney $1,000,000 3200m Stakes (GR1) Cup (GR1) BMW Australian Derby $2,000,000 2400m Australian Oaks (GR1) $1,000,000 2400m (GR1) Cellarbrations Queen $1,000,000 1600m Inglis Sires’ Produce $1,000,000 1400m of the Turf Stakes Stakes (GR1) (GR1) The Country $300,000 1400m The Provincial $300,000 1400m Championships Series Championships Series Final (Inaugural Event) Final (Inaugural Event)

Enjoy Friday night welcome drinks with your fellow travellers at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Darling Harbour.  The “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere Bar” provides the perfect relaxed atmosphere with scenic views of the harbour, beach d®cor, live music, signature cocktails and delicious food inspired by the lyrics and lifestyle of Jimmy Buffett. 4 Tour Itinerary 1

Day 1, Friday 3 April Day 5, Tuesday 7 April BRISBANE – SYDNEY SYDNEY – HUNTER VALLEY Make your way to the Brisbane domestic airport for Depart Sydney this morning and travel to the Hunter your Qantas flight to Sydney. Upon arrival you will be Valley where you will stop, en route, for lunch and transferred to your first class hotel for check-in. This a visit to one of the leading stud farms in the area evening you have the opportunity to meet your fellow before arriving at your Upper Hunter Valley hotel. This travellers over welcome drinks at Jimmy Buffett’s evening, why not sample some of the local gourmet Margaritaville Darling Harbour. produce for which the Hunter Valley is known for Accommodation: Sydney including olive oil, wine and cheese. Accommodation: Hunter Valley Day 2, Saturday 4 April SYDNEY Race Day Today we will be transferred to Royal Randwick Day 6, Wednesday 8 April Racecourse for the ATC Autumn Racing Carnival’s HUNTER VALLEY first day of The Championship series including the Today we will embark on a full day thoroughbred stud Group 1 The Star Doncaster Mile. Other feature races tour to some of the world’s greatest and most famous today include the BMW Australian Derby, The Darley thoroughbred stud farms. The Upper Hunter and TJ Smith Stakes, the Country Series Final and the Scone region is known as the horse capital of Australia Inglis Sires’ Produce Stakes. with more than 70 studs dotting the shire including Accommodation: Sydney Arrowfield, Vinery, Coolmore, Darley and Widden. Lunch and expert commentary is included in your tour. Day 3, Sunday 5 April Accommodation: Hunter Valley SYDNEY This morning, enjoy a tour around the Randwick stables Day 7, Thursday 9 April of Australia’s First Lady of Racing, Gai Waterhouse. HUNTER VALLEY - SYDNEY The remainder of the day is at leisure, however you Today return back to the beautiful wine region of the may opt for an afternoon of fun and excitement at the lower Hunter Valley where we will stop for a delicious Sydney Royal Easter Show or for the rugby league lunch at one of the leading wineries, then continue our enthusiasts, you have the opportunity to take in an journey on to Sydney arriving late afternoon. NRL game. Accommodation: Sydney Accommodation: Sydney Day 8, Friday 10 April Day 4, Monday 6 April SYDNEY SYDNEY Today you have a free day to do as much or as Today there’s some free time to explore the many little as you like. Enjoy a relaxing cruise on Sydney attractions that Sydney has to offer. You may Harbour; visit some of the many museums and art wish to visit the Inglis Sales yards where champion galleries; or shop till you drop in Pitt Street Mall or thoroughbreds are bought and sold. Alternatively you The Queen Victoria Building. This evening you have may wish to spend the day at one of Sydney’s beautiful the opportunity to take in an NRL match or indulge beaches, take a stroll through the historic Rocks area in some world class dining at one of the many award or perhaps catch a ferry over to Taronga Zoo. winning restaurants nearby. Accommodation: Sydney Accommodation: Sydney Tour Itinerary 1 5

Cost Per Person Day 9, Saturday 11 April Twin Share Single Supplement SYDNEY Race Day $3,595 $1,195 Return today to Royal Randwick for the second day of the Championship series. The feature race of the day is the Group 1 Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes with prize money of $4 million. Tour Includes Also today is the Schweppes Sydney Cup, the »»Return economy class airfares with Qantas Airways Australian Oaks and the Provincial Series Final. »»First class accommodation on a twin share basis in Accommodation: Sydney Sydney and Hunter Valley »»Daily breakfast »» Day 10, Sunday 12 April All coach transfers throughout »»Reserved grandstand seating at Royal Randwick  SYDNEY - BRISBANE on day 2 and 9 After check-out this morning, you will be transferred »»Tour of Gai Waterhouse Racing stables to the airport for your return flight home. »»Stud Farm tour in the Hunter Valley including lunch »»Assistance provided throughout »»GST Not Included »»Airline fuel surcharges and departure taxes  (approx. $75 per person) »»Travel Insurance »»Items of a personal nature »»Meals other than listed.

 Cost based on a minimum of 15 passengers departing from Brisbane. Other ports of travel & Business Class fares available on request.

Stud Farms of the Upper Hunter Valley Scone and the Upper Hunter Valley is an internationally acclaimed thoroughbred breeding region and is ranked second only to Kentucky (USA) in terms of the concentration of thoroughbred stud properties and the quality and number of bloodlines. There are more than 70 stud farms throughout the shire with some of Australia’s greatest champion stallions standing including So You Think, Choisir, Pierro, Lonhro, Exceed & Excel and Redoute’s Choice. 6 Tour 2 Tour 3

Day 1, Friday 3 April Day 1, Thursday 9 April BRISBANE – SYDNEY BRISBANE – SYDNEY Make your way to the Brisbane domestic airport for your Make your way to the Brisbane domestic airport for flight to Sydney. On arrival you will transfer to your hotel. your flight to Sydney. On arrival you will transfer to your This evening, meet your fellow travellers over welcome hotel. This evening, meet your fellow travellers over drinks at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville. welcome drinks at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville. Accommodation: Sydney Accommodation: Sydney

Day 2, Saturday 4 April Day 2, Friday 10 April SYDNEY Race Day SYDNEY Transfer to Royal Randwick this morning for the ATC Today you have a free day and so you may wish to enjoy Autumn Racing Carnival’s first day of The Championship a relaxing cruise on Sydney Harbour; visit some of the series including the Group 1 The Star Doncaster Mile. many museums and art galleries; or shop till you drop in Other feature races today include the Australian Derby, Pitt Street Mall. This evening you may like to attend an TJ Smith Stakes, the Country Series Final and the Sires’ NRL match or indulge in some world class dining at one Produce Stakes. of the many award winning restaurants nearby. Accommodation: Sydney Accommodation: Sydney

Day 3, Sunday 5 April Day 3, Saturday 11 April SYDNEY SYDNEY Race Day This morning, enjoy a tour around the stables of Australia’s Transfer to Royal Randwick for the second day of the First Lady of Racing, Gai Waterhouse. Since 1978 Gai’s Championship series. The feature race of the day is headquarters have been at the historic Tulloch Lodge the Group 1 Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes with which has been a proven source of champions. The prize money of $4 million. Other races today include afternoon is at leisure, however you may opt to visit the the Sydney Cup, Australian Oaks and the Provincial Royal Easter Show or take in an NRL game. Series Final. Accommodation: Sydney Accommodation: Sydney

Day 4, Monday 6 April Day 4, Sunday 12 April SYDNEY – BRISBANE SYDNEY – BRISBANE Enjoy a morning at leisure before being transferred to Enjoy a morning at leisure before being transferred to Sydney Airport for your flight home. Sydney Airport for your flight home. Cost Per Person Cost Per Person Twin Share Single Supplement Twin Share Single Supplement $1,595 $595 $1,395 $450 Tour Includes Tour Includes »»Return economy class airfares with Qantas »»Return economy class airfares with Qantas Airways Airways »»Daily breakfast »»Daily breakfast »»All coach transfers throughout »»All coach transfers throughout »»Reserved grandstand seating at Royal Randwick »»Reserved grandstand seating at Royal Randwick »»Tour of Gai Waterhouse Racing stables »»Assistance provided throughout »»Assistance provided throughout »»GST »»GST Not Included Not Included »»Airline fuel surcharges & departure taxes  »»Airline fuel surcharges & departure taxes  (approx. $75 p.p.) (approx. $75 p.p.) »»Travel Insurance »»Travel Insurance »»Items of a personal nature & meals other than »»Items of a personal nature & meals other than listed. listed.    Cost based on a minimum of 15 passengers departing from Brisbane. Other ports of Cost based on a minimum of 15 passengers departing from Brisbane. Other ports of travel & Business Class fares available on request. All flights are subject to availablility travel & Business Class fares available on request. All flights are subject to availablility Hunter Valley Itinerary 7

Day 1, Tuesday 7 April HUNTER VALLEY Cost Per Person Depart Sydney this morning and travel to the Hunter Twin Share Single Supplement Valley where you will stop, en route, for lunch and a $995 $225 visit to one of the leading stud farms in the area before arriving at your Hunter Valley hotel. Accommodation: Hunter Valley Tour Includes Day 2, Wednesday 8 April »»First class accommodation on a twin share basis in HUNTER VALLEY the Hunter Valley Today we will embark on a full day thoroughbred stud »»Daily breakfast tour to some of the world’s greatest and most famous »»Coach transfers from Sydney to the Hunter Valley thoroughbred stud farms. The Upper Hunter and and return »» Scone region is known as the horse capital of Australia Stud Farm tour in the Hunter Valley including lunch »» with more than 70 studs dotting the shire including Lunch at a winery on day 3 »»Assistance provided throughout Arrowfield, Vinery, Coolmore, Darley and Widden. »»GST  Lunch and expert commentary is included in your tour. Accommodation: Hunter Valley Not Included Day 3, Thursday 9 April »»Travel Insurance HUNTER VALLEY »»Items of a personal nature Today return back to the beautiful wine region of the »»Meals other than listed.

Lower Hunter Valley where we will stop for a delicious  lunch at one of the leading wineries, then continue our Cost based on a minimum of 15 passengers. Airfares not included. journey on to Sydney arriving late afternoon.

The New Royal Randwick

Your tour includes entry into the new and reinvigorated Royal Randwick. With its new cutting edge six-level grandstand and surrounding facilities, Royal Randwick offers a spectacular setting for what is one of the highlights of the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival. The Australian Turf Club revealed its $168 million state-of-the-art grandstand in September 2013. The new facility offers outstanding trackside views as well as glimpses back over the Sydney skyline including the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The five level building has a capacity of more than 14000 and includes 11 bars and numerous fine dining options providing the opportunity to sample world class food and wine whilst enjoying the thoroughbred action on the track. DISCOVER THE RACING WORLD AMBASSADOR TRAVEL Suite 15, Level 1, Silverton Place, 101 Wickham Terrace, Brisbane, QLD 4000 GPO Box 2208, Brisbane, QLD 4001 Phone: (07) 3229 6555 Fax: (07) 3839 5122 Toll Free: 1800 777 989 Email: [email protected] www.ambassadortravel.com.au