Australia: Dubai Honour wins Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick
The British shipper Dubai Honour remained perfect in two starts in Australia with a commanding win in Saturday’s Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, one of the nation’s leading races for older horses.
Dubai Honour ($5.60 in American pools) closed from eighth in a field of 11 to win the $3.36 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes by 2 1/2 lengths over 13-1 Mo’unga, who caught even-money Anamoe in the final strides to finish second.
Ridden by Tom Marquand for trainer William Haggas, Dubai Honour won his fourth group stakes in 17 starts.
:: Get free past performances, analysis, and picks for Australian racing
Anamoe held third, but missed a chance for a record-equaling seventh Group 1 win in Australia in the current season, which began in August. Winx won seven Group 1 races in the 2018-2019 season.
Marquand and Haggas won the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 2020 and 2021 with the British shipper Addeybb.
“For the boss to target the Queen Elizabeth with another horse and pull it off, it’s just insane,” Marquand told the Australian press, referring to Haggas.
Marquand deflected credit to Haggas and his staff.
“I’ve jumped aboard this horse on the right day at the right time and it’s everyone else behind it that got the job done, not me,” he said. “A huge well done to the team.”
Dubai Honour, a 5-year-old Irish-bred gelding, won his Australian debut by nearly 4 1/2 lengths in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Rosehill Gardens in March 18 in his first start since October.
Dubai Honour is scheduled to have his next start in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong on April 30.
The Queen Elizabeth Stakes was one of four Group 1 stakes at Randwick on Saturday, all won by outsiders.
Explosive Jack ($31.80) rallied from 10th in a field of 18 to win the $1.34 million Sydney Cup at two miles for his third Group 1 win, but first in 23 months. Ridden by Dylan Gibbons, Explosive Jack finished slightly more than three-quarters of a length in front of True Marvel, who was more than 100-1.
Cleveland, the 3-1 favorite, finished 16th.
Pennyweka, the winner of the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks on March 18, won the Group 1 Australian Oaks at 1 ½ miles on turf for 3-year-old fillies. Pennyweka paid $12.10. The first three finishers of the $672,700 race were New Zealand-breds. So Dazzling (17-1) finished second by 1 3/4 lengths, three lengths clear of third-place 23-1 Precise.
Pavitra, the 8-5 favorite, finished seventh.
Atishu, a 5-year-old New Zealand-bred mare, won her first Group 1, and fifth stakes of her 30-race career, in the $672,700 Queen of the Turf Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile. Atishu ($19) closed from eighth to win by 2 1/2 lengths over 5-1 Hope In Your Heart.
Alcohol Free, the 6-5 favorite, finished 10th.
Warwick Farm
Deniliquin, who has won handicaps at 1 1/4 miles and 1 3/8 miles in his last two starts, will be tried at 1 1/2 miles for the third time in his career in a handicap at Warwick Farm on Sunday.
Because of his recent wins, Deniliquin will share top weight of 130 pounds with expected favorite Secret Glamour. They spot seven rivals nine to 11 pounds.
Deniliquin was seventh in the Christmas Stakes at 1 1/2 miles in December 2021, and second by 3 1/2 lengths in a handicap at the distance at Rosehill Gardens in September.
Trained by John Thompson, Deniliquin tends to run from off the pace.
Secret Glamour, a winner of 3 of 17 starts, has yet won in two starts at 1 1/2 miles. A 4-year-old filly, Secret Glamour was seventh in her last start at the distance in the Group 3 Manion Stakes at Rosehill Gardens on March 18, her most recent race.
Secret Glamour was third at 1 1/4 miles in a handicap on Jan. 28, and was 12th of 14 at Randwick in February against a tougher class of handicap runners than he will face on Sunday.
The Irish-bred Yarrawonga was fourth behind Deniliquin in a handicap at 1 3/8 miles at Warwick Farm on March 29 in his fourth start in Australia. Yarrawonga won a maiden race at 1 1/2 miles in Ireland in 2021, his only victory in seven starts.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.