Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2016: The United States firms for Group 1 feature

POLL: THE United States was the big firmer in betting for the $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes following Winx’s withdrawal on Tuesday.

Nic Ashman

3 min read

April 5, 2016 - 7:57PM

The United States ridden by Kerrin McEvoy , wins race 4 the Ranvet Stakes during Golden Slipper day at Rosehill Races. pic Jenny Evans

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THE United States has been the big firmer in betting for the $4 million Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) following Winx’s withdrawal on Tuesday.

The Ranvet Stakes winner was installed as the $4.20 TAB favourite after being allocated barrier eight in the 14-horse field at Tuesday night’s barrier draw at the Inglis sales complex at Randwick.

Trainer Chris Waller, who reluctantly withdrew short-priced favourite Winx from the race ON Tuesday morning, has $5 second favourite Preferment in the race.

Defending champion Criterion, having his last start before retirement, also firmed from $8-$7 after drawing gate two, and with a heavy track expected on Saturday.

Another market mover was Mongolian Khan ($26-$21), while Hauraki eased from $5 to $7 after drawing gate 14.

Winx’s jockey Hugh Bowman will climb aboard Preferment and has defended the decision not to run Australia’s No. 1 horse in the Queen Elizabeth.

On Tuesday, punters around the country lost big time when Waller elected to spell Winx.

The mare, who chalked up her ninth straight victory in the Doncaster Mile last weekend, was the $1.40 favourite with the TAB before connections decided to pull the pin on her campaign.

One TAB punter stood to collect $900,000 if Winx won the Queen Elizabeth — just one of many hardluck stories that resulted from her withdrawal.

“People need to remember that she has taken time to reach her peak,” Bowman said. “It’s not as if she was dominating her opponents from day one and because of that we’re confident she can maintain her form for next season.

“Why would anyone want to compromise that for one race? She’s never backed-up and raced within seven days in any of her 19 starts and if, for whatever reason, she didn’t cop it, then not only do you lose the race but you also risk her for the spring.”

Bowman suggested the track at Randwick last Saturday may have had an impact on Winx not running this week.

“It was wetter than most of us expected and it certainly made her win a bit tougher,” he said. “Whether that was the deciding factor or not, we’ll never know but it didn’t help her chances of backing up. To be honest, as soon as I heard she was going to the Doncaster I thought the QE was going to be in doubt.

“As I said, she has never raced twice within seven days in her life and to have your first crack at it in a $4 million race after a tough run doesn’t make much sense.”

Fortunately for Bowman he’s picked up the ride on Preferment.

“He’s obviously the stablemate of Winx and a very accomplished 2000m horse,” he said. “He’s a two-time Group 1 winner over 2000m courtesy of his wins in the Australian Cup and Turnbull Stakes and is coming off a big win in The BMW.

In the Sydney Cup, Libran has firmed from $3.20 to $3 after drawing barrier three.

The Waller-trained stayer opened up at $101 and is carrying some significant multis into Saturday’s Group 1. One punter stands to collect $90,900 if Libran wins the Cup after placing a two-leg multi with Spill The Beans, who won at Randwick first-up in February.