CANTERBURY STAKES

HISTORY

* Weight-for-age sprint race first run in 1929, won by Amounis

* Run at Canterbury racetrack for many years before a switch to Rosehill

* Held at Randwick for the first time in 2014

* Carried Group Two status from 1979 until 2012 before elevated to Group One last year

* Winners include: Tea Rose (1944), Shannon (1947), San Domenico (1950-51), Up And Coming (1959), Sky High (1961-62), Eskimo Prince (1964), Baguette (1971), Manikato (1982), Emancipation (1983), More Joyous (2011-2012) and Pierro (2013)

* Gai Waterhouse has won three of past four renewals and will be represented by Cosmic Endeavour

* Chris Waller chasing first Canterbury Stakes win with three runners - Sacred Falls, Catkins and Royal Descent

TALKING POINTS

* Mares have won four of last five Canterbury Stakes. Three mares line-up on Saturday: Royal Descent, Catkins and Cosmic Endeavour

* Prolific winner Catkins chasing breakthrough victory at Group One level

* Criterion returns to Sydney for first time since transferred to David Hayes and Tom Dabernig training partnership

PATTERN

* Speed will come from Tiger Tees. Fontelina, Hooked and Leebaz could also roll into forward positions. Catkins and Cosmic Endeavour should enjoy nice trails from handy draws. Criterion and Sacred Falls run-on horses.

FANCIED RUNNERS

* Catkins shades Cosmic Endeavour for favouritism but market suggests it's an open race. Royal Descent at $15 is the outsider of the nine-horse field.