Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes - another clash of the imports and the locals
Imported gallopers have won three of the last four runnings of this $5 million weight-for-age feature - Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai) last year and Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) in 2020 and 2021.
Reliable Man (GB), My Kingdom Of Fife (GB) (Kingmambo {USA}) and Jeune (GB) also have this race on their resume and it is also one whose honour roll includes some of the local greats - such as Winx (Street Cry {Ire}), Lonhro, Might And Power (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), Tulloch (NZ), Flight (Royal Step), Phar Lap (NZ) (Night Raid {GB}), Poseidon, Wakeful (NZ) (Trenton {NZ}) and Archer.
“This year sees another interesting clash of northern and southern hemisphere bred gallopers - namely Via Sistena and Cascadian versus Pride Of Jenni and Mr Brightside.”
The race has been run with several different titles but had royal connotations for the early days - first run in 1851 as the Queen’s Plate, named in honour of Queen Elizabeth’s great, great grandmother Queen Victoria.
This year sees another interesting clash of northern and southern hemisphere bred gallopers - namely Via Sistena (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) and Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) versus Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) and Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars).
Gallery: An interesting clash of northern and southern bred gallopers
The first two are last start Group 1 winners, Via Sistena at her local debut recording sizzling sectionals to take out the G1 Ranvet S. whilst Cascadian finished off strongly to take out his second G1 Australian Cup.
Pride Of Jenni and Mr Brightside meanwhile come off defeats, the former second in the Australian Cup, the latter with excuses (found to be sore) when unplaced in that same race.
And so Cascadian is again challenged by the horse he ran down, as is Via Sistena with fellow Yulong import Place du Carrousel (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) also lining up. And adding further interest is the three-year-old Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) backing up from a fast finishing G1 ATC Derby second.
G1 ATC Oaks - New Zealand again to the fore?
It is a good record boasted by New Zealand bred fillies in this $1 million Classic, one which was won just last year by Pennyweka (NZ) (Santono Aladdin {Jpn}) who headed to Australia on the back of G1 New Zealand Oaks success.
Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel) did not tackle that race, connections instead opting to take on the boys and her three three-quarter length victory over the subsequent G2 Alister Clark S. winner Antrim Coast (NZ) (Roc de Cambes {NZ}) in the G1 New Zealand Derby was a memorable one.
She took that form to Sydney a couple of weeks ago, showing both heart and class wearing down Tutta La Vita in the G1 Vinery Stud S. - a race won three years ago by Hungry Heart (Frankel {GB}) in the lead up to her Oaks success.
Orchestral (NZ) | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Orchestral is odds-on to take out that same double, one also claimed by Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) in 2019.
Tutta La Vita again takes Orchestral on, as does the Vinery third placegetter Zardozi (Kingman {GB}) who was saved from last week’s G1 ATC Derby. Should she win it would be a second spring/autumn Classic double with last year’s G1 VRC Derby hero Riff Rocket (American Pharoah {USA}) taking out the Sydney version of that race.
And Zardozi, five days after Riff Rocket’s Flemington win, won the G1 VRC Oaks.
“Tutta La Vita again takes Orchestral on, as does the Vinery third placegetter Zardozi.”
It has been a while since the double has been taken out - by Serenade Rose (Stravinsky {USA}) in 2005 and 2006.
Tutta La Vita | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The list of fillies to win both races is a good one, one inclusive of two Horses Of The Year - Surround (NZ) (Sovereign Edition {Ire}) and Research (Imperial Prince {ire}).
Bringing in another branch of the Orchestral form line is Quintessa (NZ) whose sire Shamus Award sired the 2022 winner El Patroness. After running fourth in the good form race that was the G1 Australian Guineas, she was nabbed right on the line in the Alister Clark - by Antrim Coast.
A differing form line is that of Autumn Angel (The Autumn Sun) who was brave behind Good Banter (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) when conceding that filly 8kg in last weekend’s G3 Adrian Knox S.
G1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes - Atishu, Atishu?
First run in 1972, this feature event for the mares has only once been won by the same horse twice - More Joyous (More Than Ready) successful in 2011 and 2012. Seeking to also claim that bit of racing history is Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) who is highly fancied to make it two in a row.
She was just second up from a break when proving two and a half lengths too good for Hope In Your Heart (Dundeel {NZ}) twelve months ago whereas this time she has three runs under her belt.
Winning, over this same 1600 metres trip, the G2 Blamey S. at Flemington in early March, Atishu stepped up in trip to contest the G1 Australian Cup at that same track - boxing on gamely to finish third behind Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) and Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) who also both race on Saturday - contesting the G1 Queen Elizabeth S.
Atishu | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Atishu takes on several very nice mares in this exciting race, several of whom are stablemates - such as the in-form Zougotcha (Zoustar) who has won her last two including the G1 Coolmore Classic. - and Olentia (Zoustar) who comes off a G2 Emancipation S. victory.
Ciaron Maher - who won this race in 2016 with Azakadellia (NZ) (Shinko King {Ire}) - also plays a strong hand in this race, saddling up three runners including Semana (Winning Rupert) whose good recent form ties in nicely with Zougotcha and Olentia.
The Waterhouse/Bott stable also know how to win this race, most recently successful with Con Te Partiro (USA) (Scat Daddy {USA}) in 2020 - and they saddle up two nice chances; the G1 Surround S. winner Tropical Squall (Prized Icon) who has drawn better than she did when running so well in the Coolmore Classic and Osmose (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}) who was tough taking out the G3 Epona S. at only her second run this time in.
“Seeking to claim a bit of racing history is Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) who is highly fancied to make it two in a row.”
Adding interest is the up-and-coming Victorian mare Eternal Flame (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) who has gone from strength to strength this time in - her trainer Michael Kent boasting a good record when he takes horses to Sydney.
G1 Sydney Cup - historic staying contest
Only five years younger than the G1 Melbourne Cup (though it replaced a race first run just six months after that famed handicap’s inaugural running), this feature contest run over the same two miles has - in recent times - been dominated by horses foaled either in New Zealand or in the northern hemisphere.
Not since Niwot (Galileo {Ire}) in 2012 has an Australian bred horse won the Sydney Cup and there are only two locally bred contestants taking their place on Saturday - Manzoice (Almanzor {Fr}) and Torrens (Adelaide {Ire}).
The former - who ran his best race for a while when a game G3 NE Manion Cup second at his fourth run this time in - is one two runners for Chris Waller whose other contestant is the eight-year-old Selino (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) who won this race back in 2021.
Gallery: There are only two locally bred contestants taking their place on Saturday in the G1 Sydney Cup
Also taking out last year’s G2 Brisbane Cup over the same distance, Selino seeks to join The Barb, Carbine (NZ), Mosaic (NZ) (Posterity {GB}) and Tie The Knot (Nassipour {USA}) as the only dual Sydney Cup winners - and it would be some feat to do it three years apart!
He has a few in-form stayers to take on with Circle Of Fire (GB) (Almanzor) backing up from his smart win in last weekend’s G2 Chairman’s H. whilst the 2021 G1 Epsom Derby winner Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo) is in great form with others coming off nice efforts in the G1 Tancred S. - namely Kalapour (Ire) (War Command {USA}) and Ashrun (Fr) (Authorized {Ire}) who were first and third home in that weight-for-age test.
Athabascan (Fr) (Almanzor) was also good to the line when fourth in that Rosehill event whilst are form lines are represented by the G1 Auckland Cup winner Mahrajaan (USA) (Kitten’s Joy {USA}) and Amade (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}) whose effort to run fourth in the G2 Adelaide Cup really just has to be seen to be believed!
G2 Percy Sykes Stakes - Lady Of Camelot seeking a unique double
Four years ago Away Game (Snitzel) followed a great run (second to Farnan) in the G1 Golden Slipper S. with victory in this race and Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon) comes in with even better form having won that rich juvenile prize.
And should she take out this race she will be the first to claim the double.
Scratched - due to the heavy conditions - from last weekend’s G1 Sires Produce S., she has found a very nice back-up with this race being Australia’s richest single gender 2-year-old contest.
Lady Of Camelot | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Only one of her rivals also contested the Slipper - from a tricky wide gate Eneeza (Exceed And Excel) finding the line nicely to finish a close up seventh on the back of her gutsy G1 Blue Diamond S. fourth when closer to the pace.
Lady Of Camelot is one of the six last start winners in the race with others including the G2 Reisling S. winner Erno’s Cube (Rubick) and the G3 Magic Night S. winner Drifting (Zousain) whilst also a chance is the talented Ameena (Tassort) who lost no fans at her latest outing tasting defeat for the first time.
G2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint - pointer to future success
First run in 1979 as the G3 Royal Sovereign S. - upgraded to its current Group 2 status in 1996, this 1200 metres dash boasts an excellent record as a pointer to further success - in regards to Group 1 success, both on and off the track.
Sixteen of its winners have gone on to win Group 1 races with a number of those successful at that level on multiple occasions… Shaftesbury Avenue (Salieri {USA}), Coronation Day, Danewin, Catalan Opening (NZ) (Kaapstad {NZ}), Lonhro, Exceed And Excel, Shoot Out (High Chaparral {Ire}) and Rebel Dane.
Several of those horses are amongst the thirteen winners of this race who have gone onto sire stakes winners, eight of those represented by Group 1 progeny including Hula Chief (NZ) and Sidestep.
Ozzmosis | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
There are a number of nice stallion prospects contesting this year’s edition with many eyes on Ozzmosis (Zoustar) who lost all chance when bounding in the air as the gates opened in the G1 Galaxy.
Last spring’s G1 Coolmore Stud S. winner returns to his own age here, taking on some smart up-and-comers such as the consistent colts Arkansaw Kid (Harry Angel {Ire}), Corniche (Fastnet Rock) and Schwarz (Zoustar).
Catchy (Fastnet Rock) was the last femaley (2018) to win this race and there are some smart fillies lining up on Saturday, namely Joliestar (Zoustar) who has her first run since taking out the spring’s G1 1000 Guineas and Learning To Fly (Justify {USA}) who ran so well without the best of luck in the G1 Surround S.
