RANDWICK PREVIEW April 25, 2009 QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES (2000M) Race 5, 3.10pm (Sydney time) Simple weights and measures, and history, are against Vision And Power winning his third Group 1 race in succession in Saturday’s enthralling Queen Elizabeth Stakes (wfa 2000m) at Randwick. Vision And Power emerged from obscurity to be the star of the Sydney autumn carnival, winning the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (wfa 1500m) at Rosehill and last week’s Group 1 Doncaster Handicap (1600m) at Randwick. If anything, this six-year-old is getting better with every start, despite a long campaign that started in restricted class back in December 2008. There is no doubt in my mind that the crack 3YO Whobegotyou should have beaten Vision And Power in the Doncaster. Jockey Michael Rodd tracked Jim Cassidy on Vision And Power from the 600m, but couldn’t find a clear run in the straight because Black Piranha (second) held his ground on the flank of the winner, boxing in Whobegotyou. This week Whobegotyou meets Vision And Power on 6kg better terms, and it should be more than enough for him reverse the result. History is very much against Vision And Power. No Doncaster winner has been able to win the Queen Elizabeth Stakes since its inception in 1964 – although Haradasun went close in 2007 when second to Desert War. And the great Lonhro (2003) is the only horse to win the George Ryder Stakes and Queen Elizabeth.
Cassidy, who has ridden Vision And Power throughout this preparation, won’t be riding Vision And Power this time. He already was committed to the QE ride on Group 1 AJC Australian Derby winner Roman Emperor and admits he was doubtful, after the Ryder, that Vision And Power could sustain his winning form after such a long preparation. Whobegotyou, on the other hand, is poised to regain his position as Australia’s premier 3YO. The step to 2000m is timely for the gelding who in the spring won the 1600m Caulfield Guineas before winning the Group 2 AAMI Vase over 2040m at Moonee Valley in quicker time than the Cox Plate on the same day. Trainer Mark Kavanagh is conscious that 3YOs don’t have a great record in the Queen Elizabeth – the last 3YO to win the race was Intergaze in 1997 – but he is adamant he can’t get the gelding any better after four outstanding, but fruitless runs this time in. The interesting runner is Mick Price’s Miss Mar e n, who has won her last four starts in Melbourne and Adelaide. Price is not one to race a horse out of his/her class, so we are going with his gamble and throwing her right into the mix. R o man E m p e r o r is attempting to become the first Derby winner to win the QE Stakes as a 3YO – although last year Nom Du Jeu almost pulled it off by running second to Sar r e ra. Bart Cummings hasn’t won this race since the grey champ Ming Dynasty 30 years ago. The tips: Whobegotyou ahead of Vision And Power, then Miss Maren, Zarita and Predatory Pricer.
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AND ALSO Looking past the obvious – Sydney’s quadruple Group 1 finale – Hong Kong’s Sunday meeting at Sha Tin with its two international Group 1s, offers two chances to make the most of the best winning chances (that is, the nonAustralians) in the Champions Mile (1600m), the third leg of the Asian Mile Challenge, and the QE 11 Cup (2000m). If jingoism (that is Niconero in the Cup and Dao Dao in the Mile) is your betting preference you should look to overseas bookies, but there will be value on Aussie totes and with some corporates if your form study throws up an international visitor or a local. The Mile: Good Ba Ba, on the strength of lead-in form and with the memories of scintillating performances in international 1600m races at Sha Tin last April and in December, looks a good thing. But if you don’t like the shortie, go with South African Imbongi (Ch g 4, Russian Revival (USA)-Garden Verse (S. Af), by Foveros (GB)), handled by regular international winners Mike De Kock (trainer) and Kevin Shea (jockey). Didn’t race in the Dubai Duty Free, but was fourth in two Group 2 leadups at Nad Al Sheba. Bet eachway. The Cup: the roughie Chinchon (B c 4, Marju (IRE)-Jarama (Ire), by Hector Protector (USA)) is worth a nibble at long odds, simply because of trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias – he brought Balius to Hong Kong for this race last year, and was a good second at better than 80-1. Chinchon’s performances are similar to Balius’s at that stage, so (not to cut the odds), say no more. Stephen Howell