Randwick was always been the centre of the autumn in Sydney but for the past couple of years it has been part of a wide carnival that has lacked a focal point.

There is no doubt what the focus of the carnival is this year. The next two Saturdays of racing have attracted the horses, the horsemen and the jockeys from Australia and around the world.

There are the international horses like Gordon Lord Byron, which has already won the George Ryder Stakes, and Japan's Hana's Goal. Jockeys will fly in from Asia, Corey Brown returns from Singapore to ride Doncaster favourite Messene, while the top two on Hong Kong's ride premiership, Joao Moreira and Zac Purton, will be on show.

It is hopefully a starting point to give Sydney a racing event.

It has been given every chance with the best promotion of Randwick and horse seen. The $150million stand now has a racing showpiece to match it.

Racing NSW has driven a marketing blitz, which has established the brand in a short time. It has been at the cost of other meetings during the carnival, but this is the future of racing.

The government has funded The Championships to $10million and it wants to see a return before committing to another year.

There are some key performance targets, which include a rise in the wagering turnover of about 10 per cent, increases in crowds across the two days and more interstate and international visitors. They need to be reached to continue the funding.

Racing NSW continues to work towards getting tax breaks on TAB distributions. They are not likely to come until after the state election next year, but it will help if The Championships is a success.

The weather will be important to have a track that is fair and for the right conditions to attract a crowd the event deserves.

The main races were already established but the extra prizemoney has had the affect of drawing the best horses. It is going to be great racing with the four group 1s on Saturday given a new lease of life.

The boost in stakes to $1 million has made the Sires Produce Stakes, a race which is independent of the Golden Slipper. While the favourite is Believe Yourself, a fast closing fourth in the Slipper, the next couple in the market have targeted the 1400m rather than pressing for the big money over 1200m a week earlier.

The Australian Derby and Doncaster Mile have probably attracted the same fields they would have done without the prizemoney boost, such is their status. Both will provide the usual fantastic contest and the best miler and staying three-year-old of the year.

The most significant change is in the sprinting ranks with a capacity field expected for the 1200m feature, won by Black Caviar last year. The sprinters are an even group with Buffering and the emerging Lankan Rupee the two standouts.

It will decide the best sprinter and, in the next two weeks, the horse of the year will become clear. That is why it is called The Championships.