Horse Racing
Season
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes - Form Comments

18/10/2024 14:26

G1 – 1600m – Turf

1 Charyn Has come into his own this year in style, proving himself a brilliant miler, with authoritative G1 victories at Royal Ascot and Deauville. Allowed too much rope to Tribalist at ParisLongchamp last time but is still the one to beat here.
2 Checkandchallenge Only four winners in career, faced top opposition in much of his career. A revival since being gelded but still an unlikely G1 winner.
3 Facteur Cheval Doing his best work at the finish when second in this last year, going on to win a hugely valuable 1800m G1 at Meydan this March. Back close to his best when third in a Goodwood G1 last time. Has had a break with this target in mind.
4 Lord Massusus Probably best on the slow ground expected for this. Not disgraced at G2 and G3 level on his last three starts, but a G1 win here does not look on the cards.
5 Poker Face An issue is that two previous Ascot starts have been poor efforts. But good shows in 1600m G2s on his last three starts show what he is capable of.
6 Prague Has made major strides since a shock 40-1 winner of a maiden on his debut, especially winning a 1600m Newmarket G2 – and proving himself on slow ground – last month. Supplemented.
7 Quddwah Despite having finished 3.5l behind Charyn in a G1 over Deauville’s straight 1600m last time, this lightly-raced colt deserves respect as he had previously been unbeaten, including in an Ascot G2.
8 Dancing Gemini Has failed to live up to his close second in a 1600m G1 ParisLongchamp Classic in May, and a G3 fifth at Goodwood last time was disappointing. Soft ground helps though.
9 Henry Longfellow A G1 winner at two, running his best race of 2024 when only just failing to win a G1 on the Round Course here, albeit on ground notably faster than expected here. A blistering pace would play to his strengths.
10 Ice Max Will trade as an outsider but has won three of his six 2024 starts including a soft-ground G2 defeat of three rivals at Goodwood in August. Ran badly last time.
11 Metropolitan Revealed himself as a G1 colt when winning a 1600m ParisLongchamp Classic in May, and two good placed efforts in G1s since – latterly meeting older horses – has not damaged his reputation at all.
12 Sirona Mostly good efforts in 2024, though not ones that suggest that a G1 victory is imminent. Gets this trip well, and narrowly won a heavy-ground Newmarket Listed race last month.
13 Tamfana Has competed over further but this 1600m looks ideal as she showed with a career best when winning a Newmarket G1 earlier this month, quickening impressively on the slow ground. Chance.