Australia: Rain threatens Royal Randwick program; Verry Elleegant favored in Queen Elizabeth

Relentless recent rain could lead to the postponement of a program with four Group 1 races at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia, on Saturday.

More than five inches of rain fell in a 24-hour period ending on Thursday with more forecast before Saturday.

If racing is held, conditions will be testing for what has the making of an excellent program.

Verry Elleegant, the 2020-2021 Australian Horse of the Year and the winner of the Melbourne Cup last November, was the 2-1 favorite in early betting for the day’s richest race, the $2.99 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes at 1 1/4 miles.

Second in the Queen Elizabeth the last two years, the 6-year-old Verry Elleegant will be challenged by four capable rivals in a field of nine – Anamoe, Duais, Montefilia, and Zaaki.

Montefilia beat Verry Ellegant on heavy turf in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse on March 19. Jockey James McDonald said the heavy turf affected Verry Ellegant that day.

Duais, a 4-year-old filly, is in peak form, having won consecutive Group 1 races at 1 1/4 miles and 1 1/2 miles since mid-March. Anamoe won the Group 1 Rosehilll Guineas at 1 1/4 miles on March 19. Zaaki was an impressive winner of the $3.69 million All-Star Mile at Flemington Racecourse on March 19.

:: Get free past performances, analysis, and picks for Australian racing

Anamoe was the 4-1 second choice as of Thursday.

With weather looming as a factor, there were no heavy favorites as of Thursday in the other three Group 1 races.

Stockman, second to Duais in the Group 1 Tancred Stakes at 1 1/2 miles at Newcastle Racecourse on March 28, was the 9-2 favorite in a field of 19 for the $1.49 million Sydney Cup at two miles.

Crystal Pegasus, a winner of four consecutive starts at distances ranging from 1 1/4 miles to 1 5/8 miles, and Surefire, a recent British import who was second in the Group 3 Queen’s Cup at 1 1/2 miles at Newcastle on March 28, are other well-regraded runners.

Hinged and Gypsy Goddess, second and third in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at about 1 1/8 miles at Newcastle on March 28, lead the field for the $748,000 Australian Oaks at 1 1/2 miles.

Gypsy Goddess was beaten for the first time in her sixth start in the Vinery Stud Stakes. She has won at 1 5/16 miles and will start at 1 1/2 miles for the first time in Australian Oaks.

The $748,000 Queen of the Turf Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile is led by the two-time Group 1 winner Colette, who was second in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes at 7 1/2 furlongs on heavy turf on March 19.

Lighthouse, a Kentucky-bred mare who was a stakes winner at Kentucky Downs in 2020 and a Group 1 winner in Australia last month, was 12-1 in a field of 18.

Lighthouse was eighth of 20 in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile on heavy turf at Randwick last Saturday. Icebath, third in the Doncaster, was 9-2 in betting on Thursday for the Queen of the Turf, while Vinery Stud winner Fangirl was 11-1.

Randwick is scheduled to have a 10-race program beginning at 9:40 p.m. Eastern or 6:40 p.m. Pacific on Friday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.