The Group 1 Queen of the Turf Stakes caps off a massive day of racing at Randwick on Saturday with a capacity field of fillies and mares stepping out over the mile.
Champion trainer Gai Waterhouse is hoping to break her own record by winning the race for a ninth time with promising international star Alcohol Free, while promising Kiwi raider Levante and Kerry Parker’s popular mare Hope In Your Heat both occupy the second line of betting.
To help you find the winner, we’ve analysed the entire field in our 2023 Queen of the Turf Stakes Preview!
1. Alcohol Free (2)
Alcohol Free is making her Australian debut hoping to add to the outstanding record she’s built overseas.
The Irish mare was the clear winner of the July Cup at Newmarket last July before going on to run third in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood a few weeks later behind Baaeed – a horse that has garnered enormous respect all over the world.
She hasn’t been seen since but was in outstanding order winning a soft trial at Randwick under James McDonald a few weeks ago. Trainer Gai Waterhouse is no stranger to winning the Queen of the Turf, and with The Everest potentially in her sights, this girl looks very hard to beat.
2. Fangirl (15)
Fangirl is back for another crack at the Queen of the Turf after struggling in the heavy conditions last year.
She was second-last to greet the judge that day beaten 20 lengths in the end, but has lost no admirers throughout the autumn placing in the Chipping Norton and the George Ryder in succession.
Again, the wet track was against her in the Doncaster last week but she did run much better than that result suggests – making up decent ground after settling near last at the turn.
Clearly the stable feel as though she’s going well enough to return on the quick backup, but another wet track and a very sticky gate make this complicated.
3. Levante (13)
Levante is another dangerous Kiwi raider that has held her own in three starts at Group 1 level in Australia.
She was beaten no more than two lengths by Roch ’N’ Horse in both the Newmarket Handicap and the VRC Classic during the spring, returning to our shores at Rosehill a few weeks ago where she made up a stack of ground out wide to finish fifth behind Anamoe.
This might be slightly easier for her back to mares grade and another wet track, plus the rise to the mile, are both two big ticks.
4. Hinged (20)
Hinged gave Anamoe all he could handle first-up in the Apollo but has struggled to build on that effort in three starts since.
T her credit, she did lead for a good chunk in the Ranvet Stakes over further a few weeks ago but was no match when fading out around the 300m mark.
The step back to the mile does look ideal off that effort but drawn a horror gate, it’s hard to entertain her chances.
5. Hope In Your Heart (4)
Hope In Your Heart is the main danger to the favourite for mine.
She’s been all class this prep, winning the Guy Walter first-up over 1400m and being narrowly denied a place in both the Coolmore and the Doncaster Mile last week.
The Dundeel mare had a ton of work to do from out wide last Saturday but still hung tough to storm the line late despite copping some interference at the turn.
From a much better draw that should see her settle handy under Tim Clark, I think she’ll run another huge race.
6. Promise Of Success (12)
Promise Of Success ran well in this race last year, albeit beaten six lengths in the end.
She’s since gone on to win The Invitation over shorter during the spring but has struggled to find that form in easier contests this prep. Hard to entertain.
7. Sirileo Miss (3)
Sirileo Miss is making her first start in Sydney searching for a hat trick.
The Pride Of Dubai mare won the Matron Stakes and the Sunline Stakes in succession in Melbourne last month by a combined margin of over nine lengths.
This is her first look at the top level since contesting the Australasian Oaks at Morphettville a couple of years ago, and from a perfect draw, she’ll likely roll straight to the front and give her rivals something to catch.
8. Atishu (1)
Atishu might have an advantage over some of her rivals with fresher legs.
She’s having just her second run back after running a place in the Emancipation Stakes a couple of weeks ago at Rosehill, and as we’ve seen in the past, she does tend to run well at this stage of her prep.
This is tougher, but we’re talking about a previous Group 1 winner that should absolutely relish the step up to the mile. Her late splits fresh were outstanding, and if Nash Rawiller can make the inside gate work, she might be one of the better each-way bets.
9. Roots (18)
Roots is hard fit with three runs under her belt and is also coming off a strong win in the Emancipation Stakes a fortnight ago.
She was given a peach by Brenton Avdulla and really found the line well when daylight presented itself at the top of the straight.
Back up to the mile looks no issue whatsoever, but barrier 18 does make her a genuine query.
10. Statement (10)
Statement is another Irish raider making just her second start in Australia.
She got back early and never really made up ground in the Emancipation Stakes first-up, a run she’ll need to improve on if she’s to be any factor here. Fortunately, a wet track should help her do that and she has had success over the mile before.
11. Mirra Vision (5)
I was a big fan of Mirra Vision throughout the Spring but she’s really struggled to find that same form this prep.
The Lonhro mare was half a length off Icebath in the Empire Rose last year, but she’s come undone in the late stages in both the Coolmore and the Emancipation Stakes more recently.
The mile and a wet track won’t worry her, but off recent efforts, I’m happy to look elsewhere.
12. Pride Of Jenni (8)
Pride Of Jenni is one of the more interesting runners at a big price.
She ran a huge race second-up in the Coolmore last month, stalking the pace for most of the way and actually looking the winner at one point before Espiona finished over the top.
A similar effort will see her hard to beat, but the mile does look a genuine query based on her form.
13. Purplepay (14)
Purplepay is another one that should appreciate rain-affected going after striking a firm track in the Coolmore on debut.
The French raider was making her first start in Australia off a lengthy spell that day but never got conditions to suit. A tough gate makes this complicated, but she still warrants respect with the blinkers on and three wins to her name over the trip.
14. Excelida (6)
Excelida returns from a freshen-up with likeable form on her resume.
The Exceed and Excel mare found the money in the Tressady and the Matron Stakes at Flemington earlier in her prep, and has since come out and run well during a recent Rosehill trial.
A third in the Empire Rose last year really stands out on her resume and it’s worth noting Sirileo Miss has franked the form out of the Matron. A heavy track won’t be to her liking, but if it dries out, watch the betting.
15. Times Square (9)
Times Square is a French import under the care of the Maher and Eustace team.
She’s looking to improve on an encouraging run in the Doncaster Prelude last month that saw her hit the line from well-back in the field. She gets some added class with Hugh Bowman in the saddle and again, she’s another one that will appreciate some sting out of the track.
16. Bring The Ransom (16)
Bring The Ransom strips fitter for two runs back. She’s a two-time winner at this stage of her prep but is probably looking for an easier assignment.
17. Finepoint (11)
Finepoint is a promising four-year-old for Chris Waller with enormous upside.
She’s been in the money twice this prep, most recently running on late for third in the Emancipation Stakes at Rosehill. This is obviously much harder at weight-for-age though, and despite the fact she’s won over this trip before, I’m not sure she’s looking for the mile.
18. More Secrets (17)
More Secrets is another lightly-raced mare worth keeping an eye on as we head toward the Brisbane Winter Carnival.
She’s showed real promise in a couple of starts so far, but given this is her first look at the mile – and the awkward gate – I can’t entertain her here.
Emergencies
19. Dynasties (19)
20. Cap De Joie (7)