Dibayani to be ridden quietly in Queen Elizabeth Stakes

Irish import Dibayani will be ridden more quietly when he lines up in the Group 1 $4m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on the second day of ‘The Championships’ on Saturday.

Nicholas Hall, above, will ride Dibayani in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Nicholas Hall, above, will ride Dibayani in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Dibayani is one of three runners the Lindsay Park Team of David Hayes and Tom Dabernig will saddle up in the $4m weight for age Autumn carnival feature and a change of tactics is on the cards.

Last year’s winner Criterion will be making his last race track appearance before commencing a stud career and Rising Romance will be on trial for a trip to Hong Kong to run in the Group 1 HK$20m Audemars Piguet QEII Cup (2000m) a Sha Tin on April 24.

All three Autumn Carnival runs has seen Dibayani race in the first three but Hayes can see a bit more pace available this week and will be instructing Nicholas Hall to settle the import back in the field.

Hayes believes that on pace runners Awesome Rock and Rising Romance will set up a truly run race and will suit Dibayani if he can settle back in the field from barrier eleven.

“We might ride him a bit cold and come down the outside,” Hayes told Racenet.

Dibayani’s Autumn Carnival form has been very consistent and Hayes considers him to be well over at his Ladbrokes.com.au price of $26.

“I think Dibayani’s crazy odds. He’s actually going very well,” Hayes said.

Dibayani kicked off his current campaign with a fourth to Winx in the Group 2 $250,000 Optus Business Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on February 13 followed by a second to Winx again in the Group 1 $600,000 Precise Air Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Randwick a fortnight later.

The Shamardal six year old then sat behind the leaders again when fourth to The United States in the Group 1 $700,000 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 19.

The Randwick track is still rated a soft 6 on Friday morning and Hayes said that a bit of give in the ground will also suit Dibayani.

“Would like a bit of cut in the ground and is form overall has been very consistent,” Hayes said.

While Dibayani has had some early support, firming in from $34 to $26, stablemate Criterion has been the clear cut market mover and after opening at $8 on Tuesday when the final field for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes was released, is now sharing the second line of betting at $5.50 with the Chris Waller trained Preferment.

Ranvet Stakes winner The United States is the ruling favourite at $4.20.

Queen Elizabeth Stakes market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.20 The United States, $5.50 Preferment, Criterion, $8 Hauraki, Lucia Valentina, $12 Happy Clapper, $17 It’s Somewhat, $21 Rising Romance, $26 Dibayani, $31 Mongolian Khan, $34 Awesome Rock, $51 Fenway, Happy Trails, $101 Leebaz, Weary.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.