Harlem chasing minor money behind Winx in Queen Elizabeth Stakes

Outsider Harlem will be chasing minor prizemoney when he lines up against super star Winx in the Group 1 $4m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on day two of ‘The Championships’ on Saturday.

Craig Williams, above, rides Harlem in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Craig Williams, above, rides Harlem in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Harlem is rated as a $126 chance at Ladbrokes.com.au and Lindsay Park co-trainer David Hayes admits that the French import will only be running for minor prizemoney behind the $1.09 hotpot Winx.

“It looks a race with second prizemoney more than the Australian Cup and third prizemoney more than the Futurity at home,” Hayes told racing.com.

“I just thought it might be worth having a go at and then I will be tip him out anyhow so we will be running for second and third.”

Harlem won two races from eight starts in France and has had one run from the Lindsay Park Team of David Hayes, Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig for a third behind the Darren Weir pair of Palentino and Tosen Stardom in the Group 2 $200,000 Incognitus Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on March 18.

Hayes was happy with the lightly raced Harlem’s run in the Blamey Stakes and after the Queen Elizabeth Stakes he will have a short break before being prepared for the Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington in November.

“I thought he would run well and he did and he found it a bit sharp,” Hayes said.

“He is a Melbourne Cup horse for next year.”

“I was thrilled with his first up run. We are not convinced on the wet ground, we bought him with dry track form.”

Harlem has drawn barrier eight in the nine horse Queen Elizabeth Stakes field with Craig Williams replacing Michael Dee.

The Chris Waller trained Winx is once again a short priced favourite in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes as she chases her seventeenth consecutive win in her Grand Final at her fourth Sydney Autumn Carnival run.

Waller mapped out a four run program for the Queen Of The Turf and so far she has delivered with two wins at Randwick in the Group 2 $250,000 The Star Apollo Stakes (1400m) and the Group 1 $600,000 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) followed by a seven and a quarter lengths thrashing of her opposition in the Group 1 $1m China Horse Club George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on March 18.

Winx has drawn barrier three with regular rider Hugh Bowman in the saddle again.

The John O’Shea trained Hartnell is the closest to Winx in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes market order at $11 ahead of Doncaster Mile runner up Happy Clapper at $19 and last start Ranvet Stakes third placegetter The United States at $21.

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.