This Saturday February 13 the esteemed Randwick Racecourse in Sydney is the place to be for racing fans and punters as they host the Royal Sovereign Stakes Day.

The headline event of the anticipated meeting is the $150 000 Group 2 Royal Sovereign Stakes (1200m), which is accompanied by seven other terrific races including another three group status events.

Nine quality colts and geldings are lining up for the 2010 Royal Sovereign Stakes with Manhattan Rain currently installed as the clear favourite at $2.10 with Sportsbet.

Prepared by one of Sydney?s premier trainers, Gai Waterhouse, Manhattan Rain ran a gallant second to So You Think in last year?s Group 1 Cox Plate and since then has performed well in two barrier trials. The Encosta De Lago colt will start from barrier five on Saturday and has star hoop Blake Shinn aboard.

Waterhouse also has Viking Legend starting wide from barrier eight.

Occupying the second line of betting at $3.60 is the Peter Snowden-trained Demerit, who?s stocks have soared since securing barrier one. The three-year-old Lonhro colt has won two of their four career starts including an impressive victory in the Guineas Prelude (1400m) last September in just his third career race.

Third elect for the Royal Sovereign Stakes is More Than Great, the David Payne-trained galloper set to start from barrier six with Glyn Schofield engaged for the ride.

The Group 2 Schweppes Royal Sovereign Stakes is scheduled as the sixth race on the day?s bumper eight event programme and is due to jump at 4:25pm (NSW time).

For all the latest news and more information on the 2010 Royal Sovereign Stakes click here.

2010 Royal Sovereign Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw: