It’s A Dundeel has finished his racing career with an impressive victory in the 2014 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick this afternoon.
It's A Dundeel has been the best-backed runner in 2014 Queen Elizabeth Stakes betting markets. Photo by: Steve Hart
Carlton House opened as a clear favourite in 2014 Queen Elizabeth Stakes betting markets, but he has drifted significantly in the past 48 hours and he is now out to a quote of $5.50.
The Gai Waterhouse-trained galloper took a while to find his best form in Australia, after racing consistently at the highest level in the United Kingdom, and he was only narrowly denied a maiden win at Group 1 level by Silent Achiever in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 22.
It’s A Dundeel has been backed into 2014 Queen Elizabeth Stakes favouritism and is now at a quote of $3.60 after being available at odds of $6 earlier in the week.
The High Chaparral entire has not recorded a race win since he took out the 2013 Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) in impressive fashion, but has performed well in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Warwick Farm on March 8, the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 22 and the Group 1 The BMW (2400m) at Rosehill Gardens on April 5.
It’s A Dundeel is likely having the final start of his racing career and trainer Murray Baker and jockey James McDonald are both confident that the four-year-old can finish his career on a high.
Silent Achiever beat It’s A Dundeel in both the Ranvet Stakes and The BMW, but is still available at the lucrative 2014 Queen Elizabeth Stakes odds of $4.60.
The New Zealand-trained mare has recorded four wins from four race starts during her autumn campaign and has the opportunity to Eremein as the only horse in the last 30 years to win the Ranvet Stakes, The BMW and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the same year.
Royal Descent is the only other runner in the 2014 Queen Elizabeth Stakes field that is available at single figure odds and has been well-supported to score her first win at Group 1 level since he scored an incredible ten lengths win in the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) during the 2013 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.
The Redoute’s Choice mare finished an unlucky second in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) last weekend, after being caught wide in the early stages of the race, and is set to relish the step-up to 2000 metres this weekend.
The 2014 Queen Elizabeth Stakes will be run at Royal Randwick at 4.25PM this afternoon and you will be able to find all the Queen Elizabeth Stakes results at the conclusion of the race at horseracing.com.au.
