WORLD AWAITS $5 MILLION LONGINES QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES
April 5, 2023
Australia’s nine-time Group 1 champion, one of Great Britain’s very best and the exciting Japanese frontrunner – three of the stars at Royal Randwick this Saturday for a highly-anticipated 70th running of the Group 1 $5 million Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Anamoe, Dubai Honour and Unicorn Lion are among a field of 13 runners – who have won a combined 22 Group 1 races and career prizemoney of almost $38 million – in the $5 million Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes broadcast into more than 60 countries.
The race is one of four Group 1 races on a ten-race card – including the $2 million Schweppes Sydney Cup (158th running), $1 million The Star Australian Oaks and $1 million Sydney Queen Of The Turf Stakes.
Australian Turf Club Executive General Manager Racing and Wagering James Ross said Royal Randwick was this Saturday again attracting the eyes of the racing world.
“The 70th renewal of this world-renowned race has attracted a truly international class field showcasing the quality of Sydney racing in a flagship $5 million Autumn race,’’ Mr Ross said.
“To have Australia’s champion Anamoe as Godolphin’s most Group 1-winning horse in history lead the local charge is another highlight in history of this iconic and storied Autumn race in Sydney.
“Along with a four-time Group 1 winner in Montefilia, Group 1 warriors Cascadian and Mo’Unga and an Australian Oaks winner El Patroness, Australia flies a strong flag against quality Group 1 internationals in Dubai Honour and Unicorn Lion.
“The 158th running of the Schweppes Sydney Cup features a strong renewal with two former winners of the race and a Melbourne Cup winner taking on the world-renowned Joseph O’Brien stable.’’
Full fields for all ten races at Royal Randwick are here and full TAB Fixed Odds for all races here.
The full 10-race card of the Championships Day 2 – Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes Day at Royal Randwick will be simulcast into Hong Kong.
The Group 1 $5 million Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes will be simulcast in Japan.
Anamoe for James Cummings and James McDonald has his likely farewell run in Australia on Saturday and is a joint $2.50 TAB favourite to win his tenth Group 1 race.
Dubai Honour trained by Great Britain’s William Haggas and with “Aussie Tom’’ Marquand aboard is also at $2.50 TAB to emulate his stablemate Addeybb in taking a Ranvet Stakes and Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes double.
The Yoshito Yahagi stable’s Unicorn Lion with gun Australian jockey Damien Lane to ride is at $11 TAB.
Three of Australia’s best multiple Group 1 winners are within the market – Cascadian (James Cummings/Ben Melham/$12 TAB), Mo’Unga (Annabel Neasham/Nash Rawiller/$23 TAB) and mare Montefilia (David Payne/Dylan Gibbons/$17 TAB).
In the past 20 years, the first or second favourite in betting has won 15 times in the Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
The Group 1 $2 million Schweppes Sydney Cup adds further international flavour to Saturday with champion Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien saddling up favourite Cleveland ($4 TAB) for jockey Kerrin McEvoy.
Gold Trip (Ciaron Maher and David Eustace/James McDonald) and King Frankel (Mark Newnham/Tyler Schiller) are at $8 TAB on second line of betting.
Knight’s Order trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott with jockey Tim Clark is at $17 TAB as he aims to be just the sixth horse to win back-to-back Schweppes Sydney Cups.
Pavitra trained by father/son Richard and Will Freedman and ridden by James McDonald is a $3.60 TAB favourite in The Star Australian Oaks.
Jockey Hugh Bowman is looking to win a sixth The Star Australian Oaks since 2009 – aboard Arts ($7.50 TAB) for trainer Edward Cummings – his grandfather Bart has the training record of seven wins, and his brother James won in 2020 with Colette.
Fireburn (Gary Portelli/Tyler Schiller/$8.50 TAB) would be just the second horse in history to win a Longines Golden Slipper and Australian Oaks.
Alcohol Free – bought for $A10 million and now trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott – is a $3.40 TAB favourite with James McDonald aboard in the Group 1 $1 million Sydney Queen Of The Turf Stakes.
She is a four-time Group 1 winner in the northern hemisphere.
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