Wide draws for international raiders
Two of the three international contenders in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes have drawn wide gates at Randwick.
Star international jockey Christophe Lemaire will ride for the first time in Sydney when he partners Japanese galloper Rousham Park in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick.
Lemaire, who won the 2011 Melbourne Cup aboard Dunaden, flew into Sydney on Tuesday ahead of Saturday’s Group 1 race over 2000m at weight-for-age.
Rousham Park is one of 15 runners in the Saturday’s race and drew barrier 12, a gate that Lamaire said would suit the six-year-old entires racing pattern.
Lemaire partnered Rousham Park when narrowly beaten in the Grade 1 Breeders Cup Turf (2414m) at Del Mar last November.
“The 2000 metres I think is a perfect trip for him and I’m quite happy with that outside draw because he’s got a big stride, he likes to have some space to accelerate,” Lemaire said.
“I think from the middle of the pace, coming on the outside, he can show his class.”
UK galloper Dubai Honour has drawn one barrier outside of Rousham Park as he looks to attain a fourth Group 1 victory on Australian shores.
Dubai Honour won the 2023 Queen Elizabeth Stakes when he accounted for Mo’unga , a win that followed success at 2000m in the Ranvet Stakes.
The William Haggas-trained galloper most recently won the Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Randwick on April 1.
Stable representative Issy Paul said Dubai Honour was bouncing after the Tancred Stakes victory.
“He’s in really good form and he was pretty fresh going into (last) Tuesday and he’s come bouncing out of the race,” Paul said.
“Hopefully that will leave us in the best possible position.
“I have obviously done a terrible job at the barrier draw, but it’s one of the things you can’t control, that and the weather, but there is a bit of rain about which should work in our favour.”
Queen Elizabeth favourite Via Sistina drew barrier one and firmed up in betting after drawing the coveted inside draw.
A six-time winner at Group 1 level this season, Via Sistina finished second to Pride Of Jenni in last year’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Pride Of Jenni will miss this year’s edition of The Championships, heading for a short break instead, after which she will head to Brisbane for a shot at the Group 1 Doomben Cup and the Group 2 Q22.
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