The 2015 Queen Elizabeth Stakes barrier draw has been completed and early favourite Contributer is set to jump from the outside gate in the Group 1 event at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Criterion was one of the big winners of the 2015 Queen Elizabeth Stakes barrier draw that was conducted this morning. Photo by: Steve Hart
Contributer has shown a degree of tactical versatility during his three wins in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m), Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) and Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) this preparation, but jockey James McDonald will likely be forced to settle the High Chaparral entire towards the tail of the field in the early stages of the Group 1 event this weekend and the dual Group 1 winner has drifted out to Queen Elizabeth Stakes odds of $3.40
Another horse in the 2015 Queen Elizabeth Stakes field that will start towards the outside is Cox Plate winner Adelaide, who will be returning to the races for the first time in 2015.
Jockey Ryan Moore settled Adelaide at the tail of the field in the Cox Plate before he took him around the outside of the field at the 1000 metre mark and the talented hoop may be forced to produce a similar ride in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Japanese entire Tosen Stardom was allocated barrier 11 at the 2015 Queen Elizabeth Stakes barrier draw, but the wide draw may suit the son of Deep Impact who is likely to be settled towards the tail of the field.
One of the big winners of the 2015 Queen Elizabeth Stakes barrier draw was To The World and the other Japanese galloper will jump from barrier five in the Group 1 event this weekend.
To The World was outstayed by Hartnell in the final stages of the Group 1 The BMW (2400m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 28, but connections believe that the King Kamehameha entire is better suited over 2000 metres and he is set to receive an ideal run from barrier five.
Another horse that is set to get a lovely track into the Queen Elizabeth Stakes is the in-form Criterion, who will be stepping up to his pet distance of 2000 metres for the first time this preparation.
Criterion returned to racing with a strong third in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Royal Randwick on March 7 and he was only narrowly denied by subsequent Doncaster Mile runner-up Real Impact in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 31.
Red Cadeaux (barrier three), Spillway (barrier six) and Aomen (barrier two) have also drawn towards the inside of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes field, while Royal Descent (barrier ten), Happy Trails (barrier nine) and Lucia Valentina (barrier eight) received slightly wide draws.
