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Many strong chances without Winx in Queen Elizabeth Stakes

06/04/2016

Former Hong Kong trainer David Hayes holds a strong hand in Saturday's A$4 million G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes - the feature race on the seven race simulcast program from Randwick in Sydney.

That hand is boosted by the prospect of a rain affected track and due to the absence of the champion mare Winx who has not recovered quickly enough from her win in last Saturday's G1 Doncaster Mile to line up again just seven days later.

Hayes is represented by Criterion, who competed twice in Hong Kong last year; along with the former HK galloper Dibayani and also the mare Rising Romance who is an invited runner in the G1 AP QEII Cup at Sha Tin on 24 April.

Saturday's 2000 metres Group 1 field also includes Preferment and Lucia Valentina, who competed on International day in Hong Kong last year, and Happy Trails.

Hayes believes that Criterion, third to Blazing Speed in the AP QEII Cup and 9th to A Shin Hikari in the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup last year, is poised to produce his best as he aims to capture Sydney's Queen Elizabeth Stakes for the second year running.

"He was exceptional in this race last year and I think he's not that far off that form again. He's really come on since his last run and he also likes it wet so the signs are positive for him," Hayes said.

Criterion finished third, and Dibayani fourth, behind The United States and Hauraki in the G1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on 19 March at their most recent runs.

Hayes said that Dibayani would also improve on that fourth placed performance. "He raced a bit fresh that day and the run has improved him," Hayes said of the 2014 Hong Kong Derby third who has been placed three times in seven starts in Australia.

Dibayani and Rising Romance, like Criterion, also have good form on soft ground. "Rising Romance hasn't had much luck in her race lately and she'd also love the prospect of a wet track," Hayes said.

The Chris Waller trained Preferment, 7th behind Highland Reel in last year's G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase, comes into the race off two straight wins and will be ridden by Hugh Bowman with trainer Chris Waller relying on Preferment after ruling that Winx was 'simply not 100 per cent’ after her win last week.

Bowman, whose great recent form includes his Hong Kong Derby win on Werther, is enthusiastic about Preferment's prospects, "He's an accomplished 2000 metres horse and he's coming off a big last start win," Bowman said.

The Kris Lees trained Lucia Valentina, who was fifth behind A Shin Hikari in the 2015 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup, is also considered a strong chance on Saturday after a strong performance in the G1 Coolmore Classic on 12 March at her first run since December.

The Ranvet Stakes winner The United States and the runner-up Hauraki look the other key runners.

"He's thrived since the Ranvet and now we are here with a great hope," said The United States co-owner Nick Williams.

 

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The Championships - Queen Elizabeth Stakes Day

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