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$5 million foes on the line when ten horses step out for the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick on The Championships Day 2.
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The Queen Elizabeth Stakes has been a real standout of the Autumn Carnival since receiving a prizemoney boost more than a decade ago, and it has subsequently won by champions like Dundeel, Winx and Addeybb.
Who will join that illustrious list on Saturday afternoon? You can find my thoughts and Queen Elizabeth Stakes tips below.
2024 Queen Elizabeth Stakes Betting Strategy
► 4 Units Via Sistina (Win)
► 1 Unit Kovalica (Each Way)
1 – Mr Brightside (11)
The champion was underwhelming over the 2000m of the Australian Cup a fortnight ago, but he still progresses to a run in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Mr Brightside is obviously a multiple Group 1 champion and was unlucky not to win a Ladbrokes Cox Plate over 2040m last year, and he did return to action this time for consecutive wins in the CF Orr Stakes and the Futurity.
I wonder if his campaign has already come to an end and off his most recent performance, I'm happy to take him on this week.
2 – Cascadian (6)
Cascadian takes winning form into the Queen Elizabeth Stakes after a successful defence in the Australian Cup.
The evergreen veteran is a multiple Group 1 winner, and he proved that he is still more than up to the top level by winning at HQ a fortnight ago.
Ben Melham is up in Sydney to ride, the pair are drawn ideally and the horse rates as a genuine Queen Elizabeth Stakes trifecta contender.
3 – Buckaroo (2)
Buckaroo was well beaten over a mile and a half in the Tancred Stakes a fortnight ago and gets back to the more suitable trip of 2000m this week.
He is yet to strike in three runs back from a break, but there is no doubt that Buckaroo's best performance came over 2000m in the Ranvet Stakes two back, in which he was good into third behind Via Sistina.
He's hard fit and should receive every chance form an inside draw.
4 – Lindermann (10)
Lindermann failed to fire in the Doncaster Mile here last week and is on the short back-up.
His form prior to that was good and his one Group 1 victory to date was secured over 2000m, but it's hard to recommend him lining up alongside some of these rivals.
5 – Kovalica (7)
Kovalica finished ninth in the Doncaster Mile last week, and it looked to be the run of horse that was looking for further ground – confirmed by jockey Tommy Berry in his post-race comments.
The Ocean Park gelding won the Queensland Derby most notably last year, while he was competitive around some stars in the spring as well.
I like that he's on the short back-up and the booking of Nash Rawiller adds confidence. He looks a genuine chance of running into the first three or four, with even luck.
6 – Zeyrek (4)
Zeyrek has gone up at odds of $101 and is the rank outsider in Queen Elizabeth Stakes betting.
A race of this calibre does look to be a bridge too far.
7 – Pride Of Jenni (3)
It took a big effort from Cascadian to beat Pride Of Jenni in the Australian Cup last time out and she is fitting of her position towards the top of Queen Elizabeth Stakes betting.
Having recorded consecutive wins at the highest level at the end of spring, the Pride Of Dubai mare added the All-Star Mile to her CV last month, while her two other starts this time in have heralded second placings in Group 1 company.
The knock is that she hasn't raced well at Royal Randwick previously, but she is in career-best form and will make all of her own luck up on the speed again.
8 – Via Sistina (5)
Via Sistina debuted in Australia for Group 1 glory and is a fitting occupant of the top line of Queen Elizabeth Stakes betting.
The talented mare picked off some really nice races in Europe prior to her purchase and transferral to Chris Waller, and she was too good for them in the Ranvet Stakes under James McDonald.
I'm confident she'll only improve for that effort and she is a clear standout top pick.
9 – Atishu (9)
Atishu has been scratched from the Queen Elizabeth Stakes field and will instead contest the Queen Of The Turf Stakes.
10 – Place Du Carrousel (8)
Place Du Carrousel was the best of the rest behind Via Sistina in the Ranvet Stakes field and looks value in Queen Elizabeth Stakes betting at current odds ($11 at publish).
Place Du Carrousel is a Group 1 winner over 2000m in France, and she ended her European tenure with a run in the Arc.
With improvement for her Australian debut, I'm confident she can cause the favourite plenty of headaches in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2024.
11 – Ceolwulf (1)
Ceolwulf is the sole three-year-old in the 2024 Queen Elizabeth Stakes field.
Having hit the line impressively to finish second in the Rosehill Guineas last month, the Tavistock colt was eye-catching behind Riff Rocket in last weekend's Australian Derby.
The drop back in trip might be a small issue and this could be a little too strong of a race for him at this point of his career.
