Saturday’s Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) shapes as one of the races of the year, if not the century, on Day Two of The Championships at Royal Randwick.
A world-class field of stayers has been assembled for the $4 million feature, headlined by 11-time Group 1 winner Verry Ellegant, last-start All-Star Mile winner Zaaki, and Godolphin’s prized three-year-old, Anamoe.
The talent doesn’t stop there, though.
Back-to-back Group 1 winner Duais, as well as last-start Ranvet Stakes winner Montefilia have also accepted, alongside one of the stars of last spring, I’m Thunderstruck.
This year’s Queen Elizabeth is truly the strongest edition we’ve ever seen, and you can find our thoughts on all nine runners below!
1. Think It Over (4)
- Group 1’s: 1 (2021 George Ryder Stakes)
- Record: 34-11:7:4
- Track: 18:7-2-3
- Distance: 11:5-1-1
- Trainer: Kerry Parker
- Jockey: Nash Rawiller
- Odds: $41.00
Proven over 2000m with five wins on the board. Ran second over the same trip two back in the Australian Cup behind Duais and probably deserved to finish closer last time out in the Tancred Stakes after being held up out of the home turn. Relishes rain-affected going, but would probably appreciate a slightly firmer track and is also facing a much tougher challenge here.
2. Zaaki (3)
- Group 1’s: 3 (2021 Doomben Cup, Underwood Stakes, Mackinnon Stakes)
- Record: 32-11:4:6
- Track: 3:1-0-0
- Distance: 8:2-1-3
- Trainer: Annabel Neasham
- Jockey: Ms Jamie Kah
- Odds: $4.60
Last-start All-Star Mile winner and that form has so far gone on to produce last week’s Doncaster Mile winner. Strips fitter for two runs back and tends to do some of his best racing third-up from a spell. Maps to roll forward and set the tempo under Jamie Kah and should prove tough to run down in the late stages. Slight query on heavy going for the first time but his resume speaks for itself.
3. I’m Thunderstruck (6)
- Group 1’s: 1 (2021 Toorak Handicap)
- Record: 13-6:2:2
- Track: 1:0-1-0
- Distance: 0:0-0-0
- Trainer: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jr
- Jockey: Mark Zahra
- Odds: $10.00
Honest type that has shown real improvement with each start. Didn’t find the C.R. Orr Stakes or the Futurity to suit, but he’s been game in defeat running second in both the All-Star Mile and last week’s Doncaster. Hasn’t raced on a quick backup before but does have plenty of form on rain-affected tracks. Should settle midfield and there’s a definite case to be made for him each way.
4. Mount Popa (8)
- Group 1’s: 0
- Record: 21-6:7:3
- Track: 5:2-1-0
- Distance: 7:3-2-1
- Trainer: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
- Jockey: William Pike
- Odds: $126
Overcame a wide run in transit to take out the Group 3 Neville Sellwood two weeks ago at Rosehill. Handles all going but has failed to come close to a place in four starts at this level. Tough to recommend.
5. Dalasan (1)
- Group 1’s: 0
- Record: 33-7:4:5
- Track: 5:0-0-3
- Distance: 6:1-0-1
- Trainer: Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas
- Jockey: Chad Schofield
- Odds: $126
Talented stayer that just might win a Group 1 one of these days. Ran a place in last year’s Queen Elizabeth behind Addeybb and Verry Elleegant before returning in the spring to run third in the Epsom Handicap. Has been thereabouts this time in work and stuck on well for fifth in last week’s Doncaster. Fitter now, but tough to know where he winds up from the inside barrier.
6. Verry Elleegant (7)
- Group 1’s: 11
- Record: 37-16:8:3
- Track: 16:6-4-1
- Distance: 13:5-4-1
- Trainer: Chris Waller
- Jockey: James McDonald
- Odds: $3.30
Reigning ‘Horse of the Year’ that is well-deserving of her status as favourite. Has come off second-best to Addeybb in this race in back-to-back years but has gone to another level since last year’s edition, winning the George Main, the Melbourne Cup, and most recently, the Chipping Norton. Reportedly didn’t handle the heavy going a few weeks ago in the Ranvet when second to Montefilia, but her elite wet-track record suggests otherwise. Drawn ideally out wide, while a win in her grand final would likely see her off to Europe sometime in the near future.
7. Duais (9)
- Group 1’s: 3 (2021 QLD Oaks, 2022 Australian Cup, Tancred Stakes)
- Record: 18-7:4:1
- Track: 5:1-1-0
- Distance: 4:3-0-0
- Trainer: Edward Cummings
- Jockey: Joshua Parr
- Odds: $4.60
In search of her hat-trick after winning the Australian Cup and the Tancred Stakes in succession. Lapped up the soft conditions at Newcastle a couple of weeks ago but has had three goes on the heavy for zero wins. Proven winner over this trip however and has drawn to settle right back from the wide gate. Possesses an explosive turn of foot and she should be storming home late.
8. Montefilia (2)
- Group 1’s: 4 (2020 Flight Stakes, Spring Champion Stakes, 2021 The Metropolitan, 2022 Ranvet Stakes)
- Record: 18-6:1:4
- Track: 10:3-1-1
- Distance: 4:2-1-1
- Trainer: David Payne
- Jockey: Hugh Bowman
- Odds: $9.00
Proved too strong for Verry Elleegant in the wet at Rosehill last time out, racing past the mighty mare at the top of the straight to win by an impressive two lengths. Hasn’t missed the money in four starts over the trip and is likely to park midfield close to the rail under Hugh Bowman. Facing a tougher contest here but was the winner of last year’s Metropolitan third-up from a spell. Wet track form gets a big tick and a win wouldn’t surprise.
9. Anamoe (5)
- Group 1’s: 3 (2021 Sires’ Produce, Caulfield Guineas, 2022 Rosehill Guineas)
- Record: 15-7:5:2
- Track: 3:2-1-0
- Distance: 2:1-1-0
- Trainer: James Cummings
- Jockey: Tommy Berry
- Odds: $4.40
Stepping out at weight-for-age for the first time since running second in last year’s Ladbrokes Cox Plate. Won the Rosehill Guineas by 6.5L last start and only needs to hold that form to be a genuine chance here. Proven now on all going and maps to settle midfield. Only one three-year-old has won the Queen Elizabeth over the last 30 years, but Anamoe definitely has the class to buck that trend.
