Here at Justhorseracing, we’ve put together a preview of the key international runners that are indeed nominated for the 2017 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).
Admire Deus
Breeding: Admire Don x Royal Card
Trainer: Mitsuru Hashida
Nationality: Japanese
Career Stats: 20: 5-2-4
Min/Max Distance Wins: 2000m/2500m
Career Best Win: Group ll Nikkei Sho (2500m), March 28 2015, Nakayama, Good Surface
Dry Track Stats: 19: 5-2-3
Wet Track Stats: 1: 0-0-1
Championships Target Race: Queen Elizabeth Stakes/Sydney Cup
Short Summary: Very tough Japanese stayer with some really good form behind him.
Second Last Start (6th)- Group l Tenno Sho Autumn (2000m), October 30 2016, Tokyo, Anti-Clockwise Direction, Firm Surface
I thought this bloke was very good in defeat behind a legend in Maurice. He had the back of the champ throughout but like most, he just couldn’t dash with him but to his credit he stuck on really well in defeat to run sixth.
Last Start (11th)- Group 1 Arima Kinen (2500m), December 25 2016, Nakayama, Clockwise Direction, Firm Surface.
Ridden a touch closer in the run and that just went against him. Tempo was a strong one and he just didn’t find after sitting near the speed and dropped out to finish worse than midfield.
Final Summary: Put the pen through last start. If you go through his form, gee it reads well, with some high class gallopers there, including Kitasan Black and Lovely Day. He does boast a win over Hokko Brave, who of course ran okay in the Cups a couple of years back if that is a familiar guide for the Australian punters. I’d say his best chance would be the Sydney Cup.
Clondaw Warrior
Breeding: Overbury x Thespian
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Nationality: Irish
Career Stats: 42: 13-6-7
Min/Max Distance Wins: 2414m/4024m
Career Best Win: Galway Hurdle (3219m), July 28 2016, Galway, Soft Surface
Dry Track Stats: 22: 6-5-1
Wet Track Stats: 18: 5-1-5
Championships Target Race: Queen Elizabeth/Sydney Cup
Short Summary: Star jumper, but very good on the flat and not to be underestimated.
Fifth Last Start (2nd)- Group lll St leger (2716m), August 13 2016, Arlington, Anti- Clockwise Direction, Dirt Track.
Thought it might be worth showing this replay given his recent form has been over the jumps. This is world class form. He sat last in the run but looked to be going comfortably before Heffernan made his move around them but by the time he did that, Da Big Hoss was off and goen for the prize, but to his credit, Clondaw Warrior stuck on very well and I say world class because Da Big Hoss is a multiple Stakes winner and has form around Highland Reel and Found.
Second Last Start (2nd)- Group l Squared Financial Christmas Hurdle (4800m), December 28 2016, Leopardstown, Anti-Clockwise direction, Soft surface
He’s the horse back off the pace in the white silks. Very tough effort in defeat. Katie Walsh looked to have the horse going sweetly before taking the splits on the turn and trucked up beautifully behind brother Ruby Walsh on Vroum Vroum Mag. The leader fell at the last, and I think that allowed Ruby to pinch the break on the eventual winner, but Clondaw Warrior was very game and was surging the last 75m.
Last Start (3rd)- Group ll John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle (4800m), January 26 2017, Gowran Park, Clockwise Direction, Soft Surface.
Looked to be given every chance in the run by Ruby Walsh. Had it out the back and gave it plenty of time to find its feet. He steadily crept up to the leaders and was in a stalking position with around 600m to go but he just whacked away and couldn’t quite finish it off. Game effort, but for favourite backers he was disappointing.
(Replay Unavailable)
Final Summary: Might be ten years old, but he is a very good horse for Willie Mullins who rarely, if ever, runs a bad race. The two miles of the Sydney Cup looks perfect and if we do get rain for the race, his chances will only be enhanced further. Predominately a jumper yes, but his flat runs, most notably that one at Arlington, tells you he is quite capable on the flat.
Max Dynamite
Breeding: Great Journey x Mascara
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Nationality: Irish
Career Stats: 11: 2-3-1
Min/Max Distance Wins: 2200m/3308m
Career Best Win: Group ll Lonsdale Cup (3308m), August 28 2015, York, Soft Surface
Dry Track Stats: 8: 0-3-2
Wet Track Stats: 12: 3-1-1
Championships Target Race: Queen Eizabeth/Sydney Cup
Short Summary: Has had is issues, but when he is on song, he’s high class as we saw in the 2015 Melbourne Cup.
Second Last Start (3rd)- Group lll Henry ll Stakes (3298m), May 26 2016, Sandown Park, Clockwise direction, Good surface
This was his first run since the Melbourne Cup and given his effort at Flemington, he was a very short priced elect. Ryan Moore had him perched up outside the speed all the way and he looked to travel well as he went past the leader but no sooner had he done that, he was pressured by Pallasator and that horse put him away quickly and he just plodded on for third.
Last Start (10th)- Group l Ascot Gold Cup (4000m), June 166 2016, Ascot, Clockwise Direction, Soft Surface.
Just didn’t run the trip out. Went to be going well in the run but a brutal 4000m against top class gallopers, that of course being Order Of St George, was just too much. That, and I just don’t think he came up that prep, so Mullins immediately tipped him out for a good spell with an eye towards Sydney.
Final Summary: If you go on his Melbourne Cup run, he’ll be a serious contender. But his two runs last year were poor to the eye and that does leave me with some doubt about his credentials. The good thing going for him is that we know he has made the trip to Australia previously and lapped it up. I doubt he will go to the Queen Elizabeth.
Meiner Honey
Breeding: Matsurida Gogh x Brian Honey
Trainer: Hironori Kurita
Nationality: Japanese
Career Stats: 12: 3-2-1
Min/Max Distance Wins: 1600m/2000m
Career Best Win: Group lll Challenge Cup (1800m), December 10 2016, Hanshin, Good Surface
Dry Track Stats: 11: 2-2-1
Wet Track Stats: 1: 1-0-0
Championships Target Race: Doncaster Mile/Queen Elizabeth Stakes
Short Summary: Very capable Japanese runner who has the right credentials, and the class, to threaten in a Doncaster.
Second Last Start (1st)- Group lll Challenge Cup (1800m), December 10 2016, Hanshin, Clockwise Direction, Good Surface
Shibata had the horse in a good spot, just off the speed, before presenting it wider on the turn and he let down strongly over the concluding stages to win narrowly but impressively. Somewhat of a surprise victory for punters given he started $15 but he won well and the clock backed him up.
(Replay Unavailable)
Last Start (5th)- Group lll Kyoto Kimpai (1600m), January 5 2017, Kyoto, Clockwise Direction, Good Surface.
He is leading them up in the green colours. Did a pretty good job in defeat I thought given he was ridden perhaps a tad upside down but he fought on strongly to be beaten a couple of lengths in really good time. Form out of the race does look to be quite strong going forward, so it can be trusted.
Final Summary: The old saying with the Doncaster is that you need a 2000m horse to win the contest, and this horse does give the impression he run out a very strong Randwick mile. Does he have the class? Perhaps not, but we know that a B Grade, or even a C Grade Japanese horse can take out Group l races down under.
Meiner Milano
Breeding: Stay Gold x Pearl Barley
Trainer: Ikuo Aizawa
Nationality: Japanese
Career Stats: 36: 7-4-3
Min/Max Distance Wins: 1600m/2000m
Career Best Win: Group lll Hakodate Kinen (2000m), July 17 2016, Hakodate, Good Surface
Dry Track Stats: 35: 7-3-3
Wet Track Stats: 4: 0-1-0
Championships Target Race: TBA
Short Summary: Stable companion of Meiner Honey who will likely run in the softer Stakes races.
Second Last Start (8th)- Group lll Niigata Kinen (2000m), September 4 2016, Niigata, Anti-Clockwise Direction, Firm Surface
The horse rolled along in front at a decent clip and did look to travel well in the run and to his credit he did give a mini kick but he just felt the pinch over the final 200m and ended up getting beat just under five lengths in what was a tidy performance.
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Last Start (11th)- Group ll Mainichi Okan (1800m), October 9 2016, Tokyo, Anti-Clockwise Direction, Good Surface.
Led them up at a strong tempo after being somewhat tardy to begin with. Led up until the 300m when he was swallowed up and dropped out to beat home only one runner.
Final Summary: He won’t be winning any majors, but if placed right, I can see him pinching a Listed/Group lll race during the Carnival because he is a free wheeling type, and there aren’t many of that ilk in Australia, so he would take some catching.
Neorealism
Breeding: Neo Universe x Tokio Reality
Trainer: Noriyuki Hori
Nationality: Japanese
Career Stats: 16: 6-1-2
Min/Max Distance Wins: 1800m/2000m
Career Best Win: Group ll Sapporo Kinen (2000m), August 21 2016, Sapporo, Good Surface
Dry Track Stats: 16: 6-1-2
Wet Track Stats: Untried
Championships Target Race: Doncaster Mile/Queen Elizabeth
Short Summary: High class animal with some really good sustained speed that could trouble some of the locals, plus his last win was against one of the all time greats, Maurice.
Second Last Start (3rd)- Group l Mile Championship (1600m), November 20 2016, Kyoto, Clockwise Direction, Firm Surface
Did a mighty job in defeat. Chased a brutal speed set by the eventual winner Mikki Isle and keep in mind he was first up since August 21. Couldn’t quite get past Mikki Isle and his run ended 150m out until that horse decided to veer out sharply and bump he and Isla Bonita in a controversial finish. The placings stood.
Last Start (9th)- Group l Hong Kong International Mile (1600m), December 11 2016, Sha Tin, Clockwise Direction, Good Surface.
Did some work the first 400m but eventually got outside Beauty Flame and from there he looked to control things nicely but they did burn between the 800m-400m and that left him gassed and wide open for the backmarkers, and they rightfully swooped on him but he stuck on well despite being beaten.
Final Summary: I keep coming back to that Sapporo Kinen win where he beat Maurice and there were no excuses for the champ. Neorealism not only beat him but held him comfortably. He brings any kind of form like that here, he’ll give whatever he contests an almighty shake.
Rainbow Line
Breeding: Stay Gold x Regenbogen
Trainer: Hidekazu Asami
Nationality: Japanese
Career Stats: 14: 3-3-3
Min/Max Distance Wins: 1600m/1800m
Career Best Win: Group lll Arlington Cup (1600m), February 27 2016, Hanshin, Firm Surface
Dry Track Stats: 14: 3-3-3
Wet Track Stats: Untried
Championships Target Race: Queen Eizabeth/Sydney Cup
Short Summary: High class four year old who will make sure his rivals know he is here.
Second Last Start (2nd)- Group l Japanese St Leger (3000m), October 23 2016, Kyoto, Clockwise direction, Good surface
Tracked up beautifully under Fukunaga and looked to be a real threat at the top of the straight, but he just didn’t have the turn of foot the winner did. To his credit, he came late and snatched second in a very good performance. That form was franked with Satono Diamond beating the Japan Cup winner Kitasan Black.
Last Start (6th)- Group l Japan Cup (4000m), October 27 2016, Tokyo, Anti-Clockwise Direction, Firm Surface.
This was just an enormous effort in defeat for a three year old to take on the top of the top. Had no right to finish as close as he did given the leader and eventual winner Kitasan Black had it all his own way on speed and made it hard for the backmarkers. Rainbow Line did an huge job to get as close as he did.
Final Summary: He is right up there in terms of the top seeds for the Japanese that are nominated. He’s newly turned four, he has a brilliant finishing burst, he’ll stay, he can be ridden forward and back…not sure about the Queen Elizabeth, but I definitely want a ticket each way for the Sydney Cup.
Satono Crown
Breeding: Marju x Jioconda
Trainer: Noriyuki Hori
Nationality: Japanese
Career Stats: 11: 5-0-1
Min/Max Distance Wins: 1800m/2400m
Career Best Win: Group l Hong Kong International Vase (2400m), December 11 2016, Sha Tin, Good Surface
Dry Track Stats: 9: 4-0-1
Wet Track Stats: 2: 1-0-0
Championships Target Race: Queen Elizabeth
Short Summary: One of the best in the world and the best Japanese horse Australian turf will host to date.
Second Last Start (14th)- Group l Tenno Sho Autumn (2000m), October 30 2016, Tokyo, Anti-Clockwise Direction, Firm Surface
On face value, you would have to say very disappointing. Had the 1/1 sit most of the way and for the most part looked to travel very nicely with Maurice outside, but when it came to the crunch time, he folded up and finished near last behind an absolute champion.
Last Start (1st)- Group l Hong Kong International Vase (2400m), December 11 2016, Sha Tin, Clockwise Direction, Good Surface.
The win just had to be seen to be believed. Got dragged back by the tiring Big Orange and Moreira had to go back to the inside and hope the breaks went his way. They did, but he was giving Highland Reel five lengths 300m out. Highland Reel is a world class horse and was coming off a Breeders Cup Turf win. Highland Reel 99 times out of 100 doesn’t get beat. This was the occasion he got beat as Satono Crown just savaged the line over the final 100m to nab Highland Reel on the peg in an epic.
Final Summary: He is rated the 12th best racehorse in the world, so he is no mug. He is a top class animal, and he rightfully has that tag after what he did at Sha Tin. He is a horse who likes to get off the pace and build into his work and go through the gears. The last two Queen Elizabeth winners have done that.
