or-age
HISTORY
* First run in 1954 and won by Blue Ocean
* The legendary Tulloch won the race three times – in 1958, 1960 and 1961
* Other winners include: Gay Icarus (1971), Ming Dynasty (1978), Rough Habit (1992), Veandercross (1993), Jeune (1995), Doriemus (1996), Might And Power (1998), Lonhro (2003), Grand Armee (2004-05), It’s A Dundeel (2014) and Criterion (2015)
* The Queen Elizabeth has become as famous for two defeats as for its winners. In 1997 Intergaze spoiled the farewell party of champion Octagonal and seven years later Grand Armee did the same to Octagonal’s most famous son, Lonhro
* Intergaze’s defeat of Octagonal was the last time a three-year-old won the race.
TALKING POINTS
* The race has been thrown wide open after Winx’s defection, leaving Ranvet Stakes winner The United States shading Preferment for favouritism
* Criterion will bow out of racing after this year’s edition to stand at stud in the NSW Hunter Valley
* The entire is one of three runners for David Hayes and Tom Dabernig with Rising Romance and Dibayani also representing Lindsay Park
* Godolphin will have It’s Somewhat and Hauraki in the race. Stable jockey James McDonald has gone with Hauraki as his ride
* Sydney’s leading trainer Chris Waller has won the race twice, both times with northern hemisphere-bred stayers in My Kingdom Of Fife (2011) and Reliable Man (2013). New Zealand-bred Preferment represents the stable
KEY COMMENTS
“Dibayani and Criterion both like the wet and Rising Romance had no luck last start. But last year’s winner (Criterion) is hard to go past” – David Hayes on his three runners
“His two runs at weight-for-age have been good and he could go to the Queen Elizabeth and not be out of place” – co-trainer Wayne Webster on Happy Clapper
“Everything he’s done since he ran at Rosehill (when second to The United States in the Ranvet) has been positive and were looking for him to run up to his best” – John O’Shea on Hauraki.
“He’s a horse who can make his own luck and he’s in the best form he’s been in since he came here” – O’Shea again, this time on import It’s Somewhat
