Last year’s winning trainer Chris Waller has thrown in a cheeky Queen Of The Turf Stakes 2018 nomination for his glamour mare Winx despite the champion being a very unlikely runner in the April 14 showdown.
Last year’s winner Foxplay is among the early Queen Of The Turf Stakes 2018 nominations for the April 14 showdown this autumn. Photo: Steve Hart.
Winx resumes for the autumn on March 3 in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) and is set to round-out her campaign on Day 2 of Sydney’s ‘The Championships’.
The country’s highest-earning racehorse looks on track for a title defence in the Group 1 $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), but also holds an early entry for the Group 1 $1 million Coolmore Legacy Queen Of The Turf (1600m) on the same day at Royal Randwick.
Nominations for all of ‘The Championships’ races closed on Monday and there were officially 115 fillies and mares entered for the Queen Of The Turf Stakes this season.
Among those are nine for Waller who won the race last Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival with Foxplay who is entered for a shot at back-to-back victories.
Foxplay is rated around $15 in pre-field Queen Of The Turf Stakes betting to salute in successive editions of the race for the first time since More Joyous (2011-12).
Other standout entries for the stable include Schweppes Oaks – Queensland Oaks double winner Egg Tart, Kennedy Mile winner Shillelagh and his progressive filly Unforgotten who is also ATC Oaks nominated.
Foxplay last year became the first three-year-old Queen Of The Turf Stakes winning filly since Forensics (2008) and this season there are a bumper 46 fillies among the early nominations.
Standout youngster tipped to do well in the race include Alizee and Aloisia who are both nominated for three races on the card.
James Cummings’ Sepoy filly Alizee was on fire during the spring in Sydney including her impressive two and a quarter-length win in the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m).
She was last seen finishing third to Aloisia in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) in Melbourne and subsequently finished the brave runner-up to champion sprinter Redzel in a Rosehill trial on February 5.
Alizee also holds entries for the Group 2 $600,000 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (1200m) and the 2018 Queen Elizabeth Stakes, while the Thousand Guineas winner Aloisia is in the mix for the $4 million classic on the card as well as the Group 1 $1 million Australian Oaks (2400m).
Prepared by Aaron Purcell, Azamour filly Aloisia backed-up from her Thousand Guineas success to defeat the Darren Weir-trained colt Cliff’s Edge home by a runaway margin in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) before her sixth as the beaten odds-on favourite in the VRC Oaks.
Of the older mares in the mix some of the top contenders include the Ron Quinton-trained duo of Daysee Doom and last year’s third placegetter Dixie Blossoms whose latest start produced another third this time behind the filly Shoals in the Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m).
The Queen Of The Turf Stakes first acceptances are open until March 13, 2018.
See below for the full Queen Of The Turf 2018 nominations, early betting to be updated shortly at Ladbrokes.com.au.
2018 Queen Of The Turf Stakes Nominations
Royal Randwick Racecourse – 14/04/2018
| # | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp. Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0x72586x6x | ABBEY MARIE | M | 5 | Michael Kent | – |
| 2 | 11x0125x | ADDISON (NZ) | M | 4 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | – |
| 3 | – | ADMIRE LEAD (JPN) | M | 5 | Naosuke Sugai | – |
| 4 | 121x22027x | AIDE MEMOIRE (NZ) | M | 6 | Kris Lees | 102 |
| 5 | 25x124113x | ALIZEE | F | 3 | James Cummings | 102 |
| 6 | 438x331x1x | ALL TOO SOON | F | 3 | David Payne | 71 |
| 7 | 2x12x5116x | ALOISIA (NZ) | F | 3 | Aaron Purcell | – |
| 8 | 11x | ANTELOPE | F | 3 | Gerald Ryan | 68 |
| 9 | x31x16311x | BANISH | F | 3 | James Cummings | 82 |
| 10 | – | BELLE DU NORD (NZ) | F | 3 | Emma-Lee & David Browne | – |
| 11 | 30x1569x6x | BONNY O’REILLY (NZ) | M | 5 | Bjorn Baker | 102 |
| 12 | 432102x | BRING ME ROSES | F | 3 | Tony McEvoy | – |
| 13 | 32x3x | CAPPAMORE | F | 3 | Jason Coyle | – |
| 14 | 11x | CHARLAYNE | F | 3 | Chris Waller | 73 |
| 15 | 45450x111x | COLDPLAY (NZ) | M | 5 | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | 97 |
| 16 | – | CROCOSMIA (JPN) | M | 5 | Katsuichi Nishiura | – |
| 17 | 42x374321x | DAGNY (NZ) | M | 5 | Chris Waller | 84 |
| 18 | 70x7490x3x | DANISH TWIST | M | 6 | Kris Lees | 101 |
| 19 | 221x31250x | DAYSEE DOOM | M | 5 | Ron Quinton | – |
| 20 | 7x121x017x | DEBONAIRLY | F | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 81 |
| 21 | – | DEIRDRE (JPN) | M | 4 | Mitsuru Hashida | – |
| 22 | 3x4224x | DINNIGAN | F | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | – |
| 23 | 61x | DISCREET CHARM | F | 3 | John P Thompson | 63 |
| 24 | 033x42143x | DIXIE BLOSSOMS | M | 5 | Ron Quinton | – |
| 25 | 12x | DOVES CRY | F | 3 | Henry Dwyer | – |
| 26 | 15x | DYSLEXIC | F | 3 | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | 62 |
| 27 | 14x2x | EARTH ANGEL | F | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | – |
| 28 | 10x976202x | ECKSTEIN | M | 4 | Kurt Goldman | 102 |
| 29 | 11111x270x | EGG TART | M | 4 | Chris Waller | – |
| 30 | x5278x132x | EGYPTIAN SYMBOL | M | 5 | Bjorn Baker | 103 |
| 31 | 2111x3x51x | ELLIE’S ENCORE | F | 3 | Paul Perry | 73 |
| 32 | 7266x4269x | ENGLISH | M | 5 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | – |
| 33 | 523x444x1x | FARAWAY TOWN | M | 4 | Matthew Smith | 79 |
| 34 | 302x11013x | FORMALITY | F | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | – |
| 35 | 141x23475x | FOXPLAY | M | 4 | Chris Waller | – |
| 36 | 11110x1x | FRANCALETTA | M | 5 | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | – |
| 37 | 24105x877x | FRENCH EMOTION | M | 6 | Chris Waller | – |
| 38 | 221127x | FROLIC | F | 3 | Edward O’Rourke | 100 |
| 39 | 4x0450260x | GIRL SUNDAY | M | 5 | Gerald Ryan | 79 |
| 40 | 302x19x64x | GLOBAL GLAMOUR | M | 4 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 107 |
| 41 | 10x3426x | GOOD OH | M | 4 | Michael Kent | – |
| 42 | 4340x4687x | HARLOW GOLD (NZ) | M | 4 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | – |
| 43 | 910x56685x | HEAVENS ABOVE | M | 6 | Tim Martin | – |
| 44 | 3408x83x5x | HERMOSA BEACH | M | 7 | Matthew Dale | 84 |
| 45 | 05x1170x9x | HUSSTERICAL | M | 4 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 74 |
| 46 | 83x477100x | I AM A STAR (NZ) | M | 4 | Shane Nichols | – |
| 47 | 372117x32x | INSENSATA | M | 4 | Jason Coyle | 81 |
| 48 | 541112x13x | INVINCIBLE GEM | M | 4 | Kris Lees | 108 |
| 49 | 532x3x21x | ITALIA BELLA | F | 3 | Stuart Kendrick | – |
| 50 | 4112x0212x | JUST DREAMING | M | 4 | Kris Lees | 89 |
| 51 | 1311214x0x | KENEDNA | M | 4 | Darren Weir | – |
| 52 | 3111x1090x | LA BELLA DIOSA (NZ) | M | 4 | Mandy & Matt Brown | 103 |
| 53 | 3x11138x2x | LEATHER’N’LACE | F | 3 | Darren Weir | – |
| 54 | 15x3x | LIMBO SOUL | F | 3 | Tim Martin | 71 |
| 55 | x40211036x | LOVANI | M | 4 | Brad Widdup | 79 |
| 56 | – | LOVE AFFAIR (NZ) | M | 4 | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | – |
| 57 | 1776214x | LUVALUVA (NZ) | F | 3 | John Sargent | – |
| 58 | x64341280x | MARIQUITA | M | 5 | Gerald Ryan | 71 |
| 59 | x116x1146x | MISS DEBUTANTE | M | 4 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | – |
| 60 | 10210x430x | MISS GUNPOWDER | M | 5 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 94 |
| 61 | – | MISS PANTHERE (JPN) | M | 4 | Mitsugu Kon | – |
| 62 | 2x1449729x | MISSROCK | M | 4 | Robbie Laing | – |
| 63 | 111x080x9x | MONTOYA’S SECRET | M | 4 | Leon & Troy Corstens | – |
| 64 | 1x623x131x | MOSS TRIP | F | 3 | Peter & Paul Snowden | 73 |
| 65 | 740x91373x | MY COUNTRY | M | 4 | Peter & Paul Snowden | 86 |
| 66 | 6x2122x30x | MY TRUE LOVE | M | 4 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 84 |
| 67 | 631x7x | NETTOYER | M | 4 | Wendy Roche | 67 |
| 68 | 4151244x3x | NICOLETTA (NZ) | M | 4 | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | – |
| 69 | 1x01x7026x | NURSE KITCHEN (NZ) | M | 4 | Kris Lees | 94 |
| 70 | 11x | OCEAN DEEP (NZ) | F | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | – |
| 71 | 1323x37x8x | OKLAHOMA GIRL | M | 4 | Chris Waller | 86 |
| 72 | 5195x4549x | ONE MORE HONEY | F | 3 | John P Thompson | – |
| 73 | 15x810583x | OREGON’S DAY | M | 4 | Mick Price | – |
| 74 | 611x | PALAZZO VECCHIO | F | 3 | Mick Price | – |
| 75 | 359x41199x | PANDEMONIUM | F | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 70 |
| 76 | 111x | PARIS ROCK (NZ) | F | 3 | Henry Dwyer | – |
| 77 | 1422x6278x | PERFECT RHYME | M | 4 | Ron Leemon | 85 |
| 78 | 2x32446x3x | PETITION | M | 4 | Anthony Freedman | – |
| 79 | 2x50344x1x | PROMPT RESPONSE | M | 4 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 107 |
| 80 | 121x17159x | RAIMENT | M | 4 | James Cummings | 93 |
| 81 | 1x493x134x | RAVI | M | 5 | Peter & Paul Snowden | – |
| 82 | 682147530x | RED CHANDELIER | M | 5 | Anthony & Edward Cummings | – |
| 83 | 22x221237x | RIMRAAM (NZ) | F | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | – |
| 84 | – | ROCK’N’ROLL MUSIC | F | 3 | Anthony & Edward Cummings | – |
| 85 | x2x212720x | SAMOVARE | M | 4 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | – |
| 86 | 221x116x | SASSO CORBARO | F | 3 | Kris Lees | 77 |
| 87 | 1x4114214x | SAVAPINSKI (NZ) | M | 4 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 99 |
| 88 | 3436x5140x | SEBRING DREAM | M | 4 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | – |
| 89 | 450x11122x | SEDANZER | M | 4 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | – |
| 90 | 4x2147x4x | SHAGRA | F | 3 | David Brideoake | – |
| 91 | 28x13x0x3x | SHEIKHA | F | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 71 |
| 92 | 010x731x0x | SHILLELAGH (NZ) | M | 6 | Chris Waller | – |
| 93 | 11x1221x8x | SHOALS | F | 3 | Anthony Freedman | – |
| 94 | 3x114x | SHOKORA | F | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | – |
| 95 | 12x | SHUMOOKH | F | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 70 |
| 96 | 214x550x5x | SILENT SEDITION | M | 5 | Andrew Noblet | – |
| 97 | x074313x5x | SLIGHTLY SWEET | M | 6 | Jason Coyle | 96 |
| 98 | 2x2112249x | SPANISH REEF | M | 4 | Ken Keys | – |
| 99 | 233x23312x | STELLA VICTORIA | F | 3 | David Payne | 65 |
| 100 | 117x111x | SUGAR BELLA | M | 4 | Kris Lees | 79 |
| 101 | 24x621688x | SWEET DEAL | F | 3 | John P Thompson | 66 |
| 102 | 117x51600x | SWORD OF LIGHT | M | 4 | Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra | – |
| 103 | 3x611x | TEMPLE OF BEL | F | 3 | Archie Alexander | – |
| 104 | x211329x2x | THE PINNACLE | M | 4 | Peter & Paul Snowden | 78 |
| 105 | 31221x900x | TIAMO GRACE | M | 4 | Darren Weir | – |
| 106 | 42x15x44x | TIARA STAR | F | 3 | Gregory Hickman | 66 |
| 107 | 1x261421x | TIME AWAITS | F | 3 | Tony McEvoy | 76 |
| 108 | 35x2450x4x | TULIP | F | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | – |
| 109 | 213211x09x | TYPHOON MONACO | M | 5 | Bjorn Baker | – |
| 110 | 72x111x | UNFORGOTTEN | F | 3 | Chris Waller | 78 |
| 111 | 4113x | WARRANTY | F | 3 | Peter & Paul Snowden | 70 |
| 112 | 3x4113x78x | WHISPERED SECRET | F | 3 | Kris Lees | – |
| 113 | 111x11111x | WINX | M | 6 | Chris Waller | – |
| 114 | 1x44241x | YULONG XINGSHENG | F | 3 | Kris Lees | 76 |
| 115 | 612x70100x | ZANBAGH | M | 7 | John P Thompson | – |
