Randwick Racecourse: It's a Dundeel faces older horses in Queen Elizabeth Stakes

It’s a Dundeel, who has won three consecutive Group 1 races against Southern Hemisphere 3-year-olds, races outside his age group for the first time in Saturday’s $513,350 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick Racecourse.

The Queen Elizabeth Stakes is one of four Group 1 races on Saturday’s Randwick program.

A 4-year-old in the Northern Hemisphere, It’s a Dundeel’s winning streak includes the Randwick Guineas on March 16, the Rosehill Guineas on March 30, and the ATC Derby on April 13. Trained by Murray Baker, It’s a Dundeel is part of a field of nine in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, which is run over about 1 1/4 miles on turf.

The Queen Elizabeth Stakes is a weight-for-age race. It’s a Dundeel must beat the 5-year-old mare Silent Achiever, who was second in the Group 1 BMW Stakes at Rosehill Gardens on April 6.

In the $513,350 Sydney Cup over about two miles, defending champion Niwot is part of a field of 11 that includes six stakes winners this year.

In the $410,000 Champagne Stakes for Southern Hemisphere 2-year-olds over about a mile, Guelph and Scandiva, first and second in the Group 1 ATC Sires Produce Stakes at Randwick on April 13, are the leading contenders in a field of 14.

All Too Hard, a 3-year-old half-brother to the retired and unbeaten sprinter Black Caviar, can win his third consecutive Group 1 race in the $410,000 All Aged Stakes over about seven furlongs.

– Steve Andersen