Form analyst, RIC CHAPMAN, looks at every runner in Saturday’s Group 1 $5m Gr 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes with horse racing tips for the first four. Read on to see how he maps – he has included the potential for a damp track in his thoughts. Good luck!
Randwick R8 – $5million Gr1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (WFA) 2000m
1. ANAMOE (8) x11114x111
T; James Cummings / J: James McDonald (59kg)
Champion who just looks so well placed. And he loves the cut in the ground which he gets here. Worked hard but still too strong in the Gr 1 George Ryder last start over 1500m. This is harder but he has won 7 of his past 8 starts, most of them at Gr 1 level. Big threat.
2. DUBAI HONOUR (9) 4x0x2426x1
T: William Haggas / J: Tom Marquand (59kg)
Is second up here after absolutely thrashing Montefilia and Mo’unga last start in the Gr 1 Ranvet this trip. That was first Aussie start and he dominated in good time too. Is fitter now but his damp track form isn’t fantastic. Still, his win was ultra impressive.
3. ALENQUER (10) x1616x69x0
T: Michael Moroney / J; Joao Moreira (59kg)
Won a 2112m Gr 1 in Ireland last October but seems to have left his form in that race. Four starts since including one in Australia he’s barely beaten a runner home. Not keen.
4. CASCADIAN (5) 341154×521
T: James Cummings/ J: Ben Melham (59kg)
SCRATCHED
5. MO’UNGA (4) 032852×533
T: Annabel Neasham/ J: Nash Rawiller (59kg)
Multiple Gr 1 winner who in his 3 sytarts this campaign has been ridden upside down. If he gets the chance to sit off the pace, now that he is super fit, he has the power to finish over these. Gets the great draw, likes the trip and if track is damp, he can handle that too. Has claims.
T: Annabel Neasham / J: Jamie Mott (59kg)
Might well be the dark horse in the field this year. At 2nd run back from spell, hit front and looked the winner until Cascading nailed him on the line in the Gr 1 Australian Cup over this trip. That will bring him on and so he is now super fit. Loves it wet too. Runs on speed and will take beating.
7. UNICORN LION (13) 12x00010x7
T: Yoshito Yahagi /J: Damian Lane (59kg)
Japanese visitor and they tend to be very hard to beat. And this bloke can gallop but his only run this year he was unplaced in a Gr 2 over 2200m. Stepping into the top grade here and may struggle.
8. ZEYREK (12) 47x000x121
T: Team Hawkes /J: Tim Clark (59kg)
This looks a bridge too far but is racing in great heart. If allowed to settle back in the field he does possess a powerful finish and loves this trip. Last start he stormed home to win a Gr 3. May place at big odds.
9. PROTAGONIST (7) 4x41102x10
T: William Haggas / J: – (59kg)
SCRATCHED
10. GEAR UP (6) 4x451214x3
T: Annabel Neasham / J: John Allen (59kg)
In Ireland he has form around Dubai honour and the Sydney Cup fav Cleveland so has talent and on Aussie debut last week finished on well when 3rd to Zeyrek this trip in Gr 3. This is much harder and he looks safely held but down the track he may prove his worth.
11. HEZASHOCKER (1) 2120423×05
T: Chris Waller / J: Kerrin McEvoy (57kg)
This is a pretty fair racehorse, under-rated by many. It’s fair to say he may be a length or so inferior to the very best but he was 3rd in the Gr 1 Mackinnon last campaign, beating home Anamoe and last start was a good and closeup 5th to Cascading in the Australian Cup. Is much fitter now. Place..
12. MONTEFILIA (11) 8x4340x522
T: David Payne /J: Dylan Gibbons (57kg)
Highly talented mare. After roaring past Mo’unga and running 2nd to Dubai Honour in the gr 1 Ranvet, she backed up and again finished 2nd after being wide for a good trip in the Gr 1 Tancred behind Arapaho. Is very solid, loves the sting out of the ground and is super competitive. Big threat.
13. EL PATRONESS (2) 8x3381x847
T: Danny O’Brien /J: Hugh Bowman (57kg)
Did finish hard to win the Gr 1 ATC Oaks here last year in the wet, but 3 runs this time up haven’t been good enough to rate in this field.
