2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes Runner-by-Runner Preview & Tips

The Sydney Autumn Carnival hits its peak with its showcase race and an unbeaten star headlining the Randwick action on Saturday and Ladbrokes have you covered with our insider 2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes preview right here!

Autumn Glow is out to make it a perfect 12 from 12 and further etch herself towards immortality this weekend, but can Chris Waller’s odds-on favourite salute in the $5 million Queen Elizabeth?

She faces just seven rivals including three of her stablemates and punters are gearing up to see the next chapter in this still very young mare’s glittering career.

The Queen Elizabeth Stakes winners’ list is as elite as Autumn Glow’s prep so far, but which horse will add their name to it come Randwick Race 9 on Saturday afternoon?

Read on for our expert runner-by-runner guide to the 2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes!

No. 1 DUBAI HONOUR (5) – William Haggas

DUBAI HONOUR (5) shapes as a genuine knockout hope in the 2026 Queen Elizabeth, returning second‑up after a brave Tancred Stakes run where the UK veteran was beaten only a neck by Aeliana over 2400m.

The eight‑year‑old was runner‑up in this race last year and the money is coming for him to go one better as he’s been backed in early from $11 to $9 at time of publish.

With blinkers going on for the first time to sharpen him up back to 2000m, and his strike rate at the distance is rock solid (15:6-3-1).

He’s a proven second‑up performer with two of his 10 career starts being at this stage of a prep, he’ll roll forward and make his own luck, and if he brings the same grit he showed at Rosehill, he’s right in the mix again.

I’m adding him into my exotics.

No. 2 SIR DELIUS (3) – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott

SIR DELIUS (3) looks one of the main dangers to Autumn Glow, with the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained entire bringing strong 2000m credentials and genuine third‑up form into the Queen Elizabeth.

The Frankel five‑year‑old jumps from gate three with big‑race rider Craig Williams aboard and has already proven himself at this trip, highlighted by his Turnbull Stakes win over Antino and Via Sistina in the spring.

He’s been building nicely this prep, finishing third to Autumn Glow first‑up in the Verry Elleegant before another solid placing behind Aeliana in the Ranvet.

Unbeaten third‑up and expected to settle midfield, he profiles as the best of the non‑Waller runners and a legitimate threat if the favourite wobbles.

No. 3 LIGHT INFANTRY MAN (1) – Ciaron Maher

LIGHT INFANTRY MAN (1) is one of the longer‑priced wildcards in this year’s Queen Elizabeth, sitting at around $35 at time of publish despite arriving off a gutsy Australian Cup defence where he edged out his brilliant front running stablemate Pride Of Jenni in a tight finish.

The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding draws the inside gate and brings strong 2000m form, but the knock is his record at Randwick — four runs here without a top‑three finish.

He’ll likely settle just off the pace, and while his Peter Young run four fourth two starts back was solid, he’ll need to lift again to match the elite locals.

Still, he’s rock‑hard fit, in winning form, and if he finally brings his best to Randwick, he’s the roughie capable of surprising a few.

No. 4 LINDERMANN (6) – Chris Waller

LINDERMANN (6) is Waller’s tough, reliable on‑pacer, and while he sits around the $23 at time of writing, he’ll need to find a new peak to trouble his star stablemates in this year’s Queen Elizabeth.

He was brave in the Ranvet last start, rolling along in front and only being nailed late by Aeliana over 2000m on a slow track.

That effort showed he’s still up for a fight at this level, especially when allowed to control the tempo.

Two runs back he was well beaten by Autumn Glow in the Verry Elleegant, but he did all the early work and paid the price late.

Third‑up now with a tongue tie on and expected to lead again, he’ll give punters a sight for a long way.

Whether he can hold off the big guns in the final 200m is the question, but he’s honest enough to make things interesting.

No. 5 WOOTTON VERNI (7) – Chris Waller

WOOTTON VERNI (7) isn’t beating Autumn Glow, but he’s absolutely the blowout chance to run a drum at massive odds.

He’s the classic underrated Waller roughie who can sneak into the top three behind a more fancied stablemate, and at around 80/1 he’s one of the better value plays of the race.

He took a few runs to warm up this prep, but his Neville Sellwood win last start was a beauty — putting a gap on Caviar Heights on a Soft 7 and finally looking back to his best.

He’s a proven 2000m weapon (5 wins from 7 starts at the trip), gets conditions to suit again, and Tommy Berry sticks.

If you’re hunting for something at a price to spice up your exotics, he’s the one who can easily outrun his quote.

No. 6 CAVIAR HEIGHTS (4) – William Haggas

CAVIAR HEIGHTS (4) is the second of the William Haggas raiders and the clear outsider of the Queen Elizabeth field at triple‑figure odds, but he did more than enough first‑up to warrant at least a mention.

The lightly raced import resumed after seven months on March 28 and stuck on well for second in the Group 2 Neville Sellwood over 2000m, finishing 2.75 lengths behind Wootton Verni on a slow Rosehill track.

He tends to improve sharply second‑up — as shown by another runner‑up effort at Windsor last prep — and he gets Zac Lloyd aboard, who’s riding in terrific form.

No. 7 AUTUMN GLOW (2) – Chris Waller

AUTUMN GLOW (2) is understandably ultra‑short in betting — and why wouldn’t she be?

Chris Waller’s unbeaten daughter of The Autumn Sun just keeps raising the bar, and she rolls into the Queen Elizabeth chasing a perfect 12‑from‑12 record and her fourth Group 1.

She was breathtaking again in the George Ryder, putting nearly three lengths on Gringotts, and now looks to follow in the footsteps of Winx by completing the Ryder–Queen Elizabeth double.

A six‑time Randwick winner already, she steps to 2000m for the first time but shapes as though the trip will only make her more dangerous.

Barrier two and James McDonald is the dream combo, and with her tactical speed, turn of foot and flawless prep, it’s no shock she dominates the market.

She’s the benchmark, the one they all have to get past, and on exposed form she’s the clear top seed to keep the streak alive.

No. 8 AELIANA (8) – Chris Waller

AELIANA (8) comes into the Queen Elizabeth absolutely flying, and she’s one of the few in the field with the depth of form to at least make Autumn Glow earn it.

Last season’s five‑length ATC Derby heroine has been ultra‑consistent this prep and arrives fourth‑up, rock‑hard fit and chasing a Group 1 hat‑trick.

After running second to Autumn Glow in both the Apollo and Verry Elleegant, she struck gold once Waller split his star mares on Slipper Day, producing a tough win in the Ranvet before backing it up with another narrow victory in the Tancred over 2400m.

She’s thriving on Soft ground, she’s in peak rhythm, and she’s racing with the confidence of a mare who knows how to win.

The challenge now is dropping back to 2000m against a sharper field, but the market still respects her class and consistency.

She’s expected to settle midfield again, and if the tempo is genuine, she’ll be charging late as usual.

Aeliana may not have the explosive brilliance of the favourite, but she’s all heart, all stamina, and in the form of her life — more than capable of landing in the finish if things break her way.

Happy punting!