The Queen Elizabeth Stakes is the race of the autumn carnival and is one of four Group 1 races taking place at Royal Randwick on saturday.
Our full 2022 The Championships Day 2 Tips & Preview can be found below.
Preview brought to you by Neds. Learn more about Neds HERE.
Race 1: Listed Fernhill Mile (1600m) 11:40am
Tip: No. 1 Williamsburg
Williamsburg was excellent when taking out the Group 3 Baillieu Handicap on the heavy 10 at Rosehill last start and will take plenty of beating in the opening race of the day at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
He rises two kilos in weight for this contest but the son of Snitzel has plenty of improvement still left in him at just his fifth career start.
Race 2: Listed South Pacific Classic (1400m) 12:15pm
Tip: No. 9 Loch Eagle
Loch Eagle has put together two really impressive wins in a row now having won his maiden at Newcastle by over four lengths and then backing that up with a win wat Warwick Farm last time out.
He beat home the smart Straight Arron in that event who has since come out and win and with natural improvement, he looks good enough to step up to black type company in this event.
Race 3: Midway Championships Final (1400m) 12:50pm
Tip: No. 9 Great News
Great News was narrowly defeated by Kinlock first up at Gosford on the heavy track but there was plenty to like about the run.
The Kim Waugh trained five year old mare has been a consistent performer over her short career racing placed in all but one of her 15 career starts.
James McDonald was aboard Never Talk when that horse won her qualifying race and has chosen to ride this mare which is good enough of a push for me.
Race 4: Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m) 1:25pm
Tip: No. 3 Paris Dior
Paris Dior showed an excpetional turn of foot to put her rivals away in a few short strides at Canterbury back in January proving she had a bright future.
She then finished second in the rich Inglis Millenium to close out her debut campaign.
The daughter of Pierro has had two nice trial wins leading into this first up assignment and is the horse to beat.
Race 5: Group 2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (1200m) 2:00pm
Tip: No. 1 In The Congo
In The Congo could not have been much more impressive when beaten half a length taking on the older horses in the Group 1 The Galaxy behind Shelby Sixty Six and Big Parade to kick stat his campaign.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained colt has missed a place just once in eight career starts and this looks astute placement by the team.
Race 6: Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) 2:35pm
Tip: No. 3 Biscayne Bay
Biscayne Bay is only a lightly raced filly who was set for this race by Australian Bloodstock after her third in the Kennedy Oaks during the spring.
She found the line really well first up in the Group 2 Kewney Stakes at Flemington having found a few backsides at a crucial stage.
I’m not convinced she is a genuine stayer and she is unproven on the heavy track however we are getting double figure odds about a pretty classy filly who is proven at this level.
Race 7: Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) 3:15pm
Tip: No. 4 Stockman
Stockman is racing really ell right at the minute and he backed up his win in the Group 3 Sky High Stakes at Rosehill with a second behind Duais in the Group 1 Tancred Stakes last start.
His record on the heavy is very good (7:4-2-0) and he will drop 8kgs from his last start in the Tancred.
The son of Tavistock shows signs that the 3200m will not be an issue especially when considering the lightweight.
Race 8: Race 8: Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) 3:55pm
Tip: SRM Anamoe Top 2 into Think It Over Top 4 @ $11
This is the race of the autumn. There is no doubting that.
The weather in Sydney has thrown up some challenges throughout the autumn but the advantage now is that we have seen all of these horses on the heavy track!
I’m with the star three year old colt Anamoe as my on top selection after proving himself a genuine superstar when taking out the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas by over six lengths on the heavy track last start.
He beat Verry Elleegant fair and square in the Cox Plate in the spring and he is a better colt now than he was then.
Think It Over has been absolutely flying for the best part of 12 months now and although he didn’t handle the step up to 2400m in the Tancred last start, I loved the way he finished off his race.
He can run a cheeky one at $41.
Race 9: Group 1 Queen Of The Turf (1600m) 4:35pm
Tip: No. 14 Yonce
There are a few unknowns with the unbeaten mare Yonce but she won like a really good horse at Flemington two back over 1600m.
It was only a benchmark 84 Handicap race but she did not have it all her own way in the straight, weaving through horses and putting away the field in a matter of a few strides.
The daughter of Proisir has won six of six so far but this is a big step up in grade and she tackles the heavy track for the first time (more than likely).
The $7 available is worth the risk that she is good enough to mix it at Group 1 level in my opinion.
Race 10: Group 2 Sapphire Stakes (1200m) 5:10pm
Tip: Boxed Trifecta 2/3/4/5/8/
A fantastic betting race to close out The Championships.
What better way than to jag the trifecta in the last!
