The Queen Elizabeth Stakes is a Group 1 contest held over 2000m at Royal Randwick Racecourse, on day two of ‘The Championships’. The $4m weight-for-age feature is regarded as one of the biggest and best races on the Sydney Autumn Carnival calendar.
Since its first running in 1851, the satin winners rug has been thrown over a number of high calibre horses. Champion mare Winx won the race three years in a row from 2017-2019, the latest being her last ever race start. Last year’s race was taken out by British stayer Addeybb, who also won the race in 2020.
Looking at the market for this year’s Queen Elizabeth, we can see just how open the race is. Dabble has G1 winning machine, Verry Elleegant, favourite at $3.10. Zaaki is right on her hammer at $4.20, and star 3YO colt Anamoe is also right in contention at $4.60. In form mare Duais is next best at $5.00, and last start Ranvet winner Montefilia is at $9.00.
As we know with horse racing, anything can happen, and there looks to be plenty of depth and quality in this year’s field. So, we have dissected each of the horses’ chances for you! Read on below to find our runner by runner preview of the 2022 Queen Elizabeth Stakes along with The Shark’s best tips.
1. Think It Over (4) – $34
Jockey – Nash Rawiller 59kg
Trainer – Kerry Parker
Finished a good 2nd in the G1 Australian Cup two back behind Duais, before again not being able to measure up to her standard in the G1 Tancred Stakes. Drawn well, and has a brilliant record this track/trip, but needs to find off his last couple of runs if he is to win this.
2. Zaaki (3) – $4.20
Jockey – Jamie Kah 59kg
Trainer – Annabel Neasham
Resumed with a solid effort in the G2 Blamey Stakes at Caulfield, before destroying his rivals in the All Star Mile. The form out of that race looks strong, going off last week’s Doncaster, where the top three came out of that race. Steps out to 2000m now which looks ideal, and has drawn to get a soft run on speed. Will be in it for a long way.
What a field!
Barriers have been drawn for the $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Who wins? pic.twitter.com/SsysKoC3Dw
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) April 5, 2022
3. I’m Thunderstruck (6) – $12
Jockey – Mark Zahra 59kg
Trainer – Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr
Ran on well in the All Star Mile, but was no match for Zaaki. He then ran another brave 2nd in last week’s G1 Doncaster Handicap. Steps up to 2000m here, which he has never seen before, but his breeding and racing pattern suggest it’ll be no issue. Has the ability to be competitive here, and will be sent out good odds.
4. Mount Popa (8) – $101
Jockey – William Pike 59kg
Trainer – Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
Just outgunned in the G3 Sky High Stakes two back, before getting the job done last start in the G3 Neville Sellwood Stakes. Has won 2 from 2 this track/trip, but finds himself in a very strong G1 race here. Will need to run a career best to be competitive one would think.
5. Dalasan (1) – $91
Jockey – Chad Schofield 59kg
Trainer – Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas
Held on well to finish 5th last start, in the G1 Doncaster Handicap. Steps up to 2000m now which is no problem, and should get a nice run in the first few from the inside draw. Ran 3rd at big odds in this race last year, and although I couldn’t see him winning this, he may well run another bold race at big odds.
6. Verry Elleegant (7) – $3.10F
Jockey – James McDonald 57kg
Trainer – Chris Waller
Star mare who got the job done two back, to win her eleventh G1, in the Chipping Norton Stakes. She then got rolled last start in the G1 Ranvet Stakes at very short odds. Although it wasn’t the result punters and connections were after, her run was still full of merit. She’s twice a runner up in this race, and will be looking to go one better this year.
7. Duais (9) – $5.00
Jockey – Joshua Parr 57kg
Trainer – Edward Cummings
In form mare who is looking for three G1’s on the hop. She was luckless in the G1 Chipping Norton, before blowing her rivals away in the G1 Australian Cup. She then came back to NSW, and blew them away once again in the G1 Tancred Stakes. There’s been plenty of talk whether she would line up in this or the Sydney Cup. That decision has been made, and she looks mighty hard to beat once again.
This will be a cracking race… 🤤
Any early predictions for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes?#TheChampionships pic.twitter.com/k1gjPfUpYj
— Racing.com (@Racing) April 5, 2022
8. Montefilia (2) – $9.00
Jockey – Hugh Bowman 57kg
Trainer – David Payne
Ran well first up in the G1 Chipping Norton Stakes, before a career best run in the G1 Ranvet a fortnight ago. She displayed an electric turn of foot on that occasion, and finds similar conditions here again. If she can reproduce something similar to her last start, she will be more than competitive.
9. Anamoe (5) – $4.60
Jockey – Tommy Berry 55.5kg
Trainer – James Cummings
Lone 3YO of the field, who finished 2nd in last year’s Cox Plate. Not sure if that was his best performance to date, or his last start massacre in the Rosehill Guineas. Either way, if he can reproduce something similar, he will be hard to beat once again.
Final Word
What a race we have on our hands here. For mine, this is the race of the carnival. It has everything! Perhaps the only downer will be the heavy track, which we have become used to seeing in Sydney in recent weeks.
Zaaki was terrific last start winning the All Star Mile. A repeat performance would see him hard to topple yet again. Runner-up in that race, and in the Doncaster Handicap, I’m Thunderstruck, steps out to 2000m for the first time and can’t be overlooked.
Eleven-time G1 winning mare Verry Elleegant will be looking to find the winners stall again, after her last start shock defeat behind fellow runner Montefilia, in the G1 Ranvet Stakes. Both mares look good chances here again.
Bring on the Queen Elizabeth Stakes! 💥 @mcacajamez pic.twitter.com/NnpvI0akoH
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) April 5, 2022
The Ed Cummings trained, Duais, has been the talk of the town since her Australian Cup win. She put the writing on the wall yet again when she destroyed her rivals in the Tancred Stakes a fortnight ago. There looks to be no reason she can’t win again, and star 3YO colt Anamoe will be out to prove he is the real deal, after a breathtaking win in the Rosehill Guineas last start.
There has been much conjecture in the past week about Duais, and whether she would line up in this race or the Sydney Cup. I myself believe connections have made the right decision in keeping her to 2000m and racing for the extra prize money, as she is in career best form. Although this race looks to be lacking a real speed influence, I believe she can settle close enough, and make it G1 win number four.
Best Queen Elizabeth Stakes Tip: 7. Duais – Win ($5.00)
Queen Elizabeth Stakes numbers: 7-6-2-3
If you need more news, information and tips, head over to our Queen Elizabeth Stakes page for all your punting needs!
*Odds correct at time of writing, courtesy of Dabble.
