Late entry The United States is the $4.20 favourite for the $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick which will be run without star mare Winx.
Owner Lloyd Williams paid $65,000 to put The United States in Saturday’s 2000m race after he won the Group One Ranvet Stakes last month.
The United States
Winx’s trainer Chris Waller ruled Winx out of the race before Tuesday’s acceptances, saying he did not think she was 100 per cent after her tough win in Saturday’s Doncaster Mile.
Betting re-opened after the declaration of the 14-horse field after stewards ordered the markets to be suspended on Monday with the uncertainty over Winx who was the odds-on favourite.
The Waller-trained Preferment, the winner of the Group One Australian Cup and BMW at his past two starts, is the $4.60 second favourite for the Queen Elizabeth with last year’s winner Criterion an $8 chance.
The barrier draw for the race will be held on Tuesday afternoon.
