Last week's drawn AFL Grand Final threw the plans of not only footy fans into disarray; it also had a massive impact on the racing industry.

The first Saturday in October has become one of the most anticipated days on the racing calendar, with many rating it the best day's action of the year.

Neither the Randwick nor Flemington meetings rival Victoria Derby day or Golden Slipper day as the best meeting of the year, but putting them together adds up to a magnificent day of dual-state racing.

Along with Sydney's two most famous spring races - the Epsom and Metropolitan Handicaps - Randwick plays host to both the Spring Champion Stakes and the Flight Stakes for the three-year-olds.

The Turnbull is the only Group 1 set down for Flemington, but the Edward Manifold Stakes and Gilgai Stakes are a couple of gripping Group 2s that make up an enthralling support card.

But with the Victoria Racing Club understandably reluctant to put their final pre-Melbourne Cup week meeting up against AFL showpiece, it has been transferred to Sunday.

The bonus for racing fans is that the stunning weekend is now spread across two days, starting on Saturday at Randwick, where chapters will be added to two of Sydney's most time-honoured events.

The Epsom was first run in 1865 and has been won by champions Amounis, Shannon, Sky High, Gunsynd and Super Impose, while the Metropolitan is just a year younger and counts Melbourne Cup winners Tim Whiffler, The Barb, Delta, Dalray, Straight Draw and Macdougal on its honour roll.

As with most of Randwick's big events, Gai Waterhouse has an outstanding record in both races, winning each six times. That makes her the most successful trainer in Metropolitan history and the modern-day trainer with the best Epsom record.

She needs just one more Epsom win to equal the all-time record, held by her father Tommy Smith.

She has two runners in this year's $500,000 race, Once Were Wild and Cannonball, but history says she won't equal the record this year. Once Were Wild needs to become the first mare in 34 years to win the 1600m event, while American import Cannonball is yet to win in Australia.

Dual Stradbroke winner Black Piranha could be the one to deny Waterhouse. While no horse has carried at least 58.5kg to victory since Super Impose carted 61kg in 1991, the past three Epsom winners have come via the Theo Marks and George Main, and Black Piranha is the only horse bringing that form line into this year's race.

Herculian Prince is favourite to join Te Akau Nick, Electronic, Hula Flight, In Joyment, Coca Cobanna and Dress Circle as Waterhouse's Metrop winners, but memories of a horse from a rival stable will be revived if he wins.

In 1994 the David Hayes-trained Glastonbury won the Metropolitan at 25-1, a week after running last of 18 in the Colin Stephen Quality.

Herculian Prince didn't run last of 18 in last week's Colin Stephen, but he failed to beat a runner home after getting his tongue over the bit in the five-horse event.

No Wine No Song, who won last week's Colin Stephen, and the Peter Moody-trained Mr Charlie shape as Herculian Prince's key rivals in the $400,000 event.

Waterhouse also has the favourite for the $400,000 Flight Stakes, a race she has won an amazing seven times.

More Strawberries will join Angst, Danarani, Sunline, Danglissa, Unworldly and Samantha Miss as fillies to have done the Furious-Tea Rose-Flight treble since 1993 if she presents Waterhouse with an eighth trophy.

Parables is out to deny her, however, and hopefully be a part of a Group 1 double for Peter Snowden.

Darley's trainer also has raging favourite Retrieve and second elect Giresun engaged in the $400,000 race that provided him with his first Group 1 success when Sousa won two years ago.

Once the last has been run at Randwick, attention will swing to Flemington where the Caulfield Cup winner will most likely go around in the Turnbull Stakes.

The $500,000 Group 1 contains six of the top seven in Caulfield Cup betting - Dariana, Metal Bender, Shocking, Vigor, Faint Perfume and Moudre - with five of the past 10 Caulfield Cup winners contesting the Turnbull.

Five of the past seven Turnbull winners have had their final hit-out in the Underwood Stakes, which is good news for Turnbull favourites Shocking, Metal Bender and Dariana, while Zavite, Zabrasive and Buccellati have also come that way.

The Turnbull isn't just full of Caulfield Cup hopes, though, with Shoot Out and Typhoon Tracy taking the path recently trod to Cox Plate glory by Maldivian, El Segundo, Makybe Diva, Northerly and Sunline.

But Sunday's card isn't just about Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup contenders.

The $250,000 Group 2 Edward Manifold again looks like being a significant Thousand Guineas pointer, with Divorces and Sistine Angel among the fillies likely to contest the 1600m event.

But potentially the clash of the day comes in the $250,000 Gilgai Stakes, with Australia's latest sprint sensation Hay List to clash with comeback champ Weekend Hussler up the famous Flemington "Straight Six".

Hay List is backing up after winning last Friday night's Group 1 Manikato Stakes, while Weekend Hussler takes his first step back on a path aimed at reaching the heights that resulted in him being crowned Australian Horse of the Year in 2008.