G1 – 1600m – Turf
Horse Racing
Season
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes - Form Comments
| 1 | Breton Rock | Well beaten in this race last year, and yet to really convince over 1600m, with all his wins coming over shorter. However he did spring a 50-1 shock win in a 1400m Goodwood G2 in August, managing an electric finishing burst. Best on slow ground. |
| 2 | Here Comes When | Has won eight of his 29 races, by far the most significant being his shock defeat of Ribchester in a G1 at Goodwood in August, holding on to the narrow lead he had established about 200m out. Soft ground looks essential. |
| 3 | Lightning Spear | Beaten 8L ninth of 16 behind Ribchester in a G1 here on fast ground at Royal Ascot in June but in August a late charge saw him win the same Goodwood G2 for the second year. A good third in this race last year gives some hope despite a modest effort last time. |
| 4 | Ribchester | Three of his four G1 wins have come in 2017, including over this straight 1600m at Royal Ascot in June. Can be a tricky ride but, after a lapse at Goodwood, his huge talent saw him win again on his ideal slow ground at Chantilly last month – his nearest victim winning easily a G2 since. Usually races near the speed. |
| 5 | Toscanini | Useful in his own right and runner-up in a G3 at York in August. However he is surely here to act as pacemaker to Ribchester as he was in a G1 over this straight 1600m at Royal Ascot in June. |
| 6 | Zonderland | Probably posted a career best on his only start this season. After racing prominently and a bit too keenly, he battled really hard only to be caught by Lightning Spear on the wire in that 1600m Goodwood G2 in August. He wants good or faster ground. |
| 7 | Al Wukair | Gained a G1 win at his second top-level attempt when he took a long time to get on top but poked his nose in front on the wire over the straight 1600m on soft ground at Deauville in August. A minor injury earlier in the season has resulted in a light campaign. |
| 8 | Beat The Bank | Has catapulted up the rankings in his last three starts, all at 1600m – winning a Listed race (Newmarket), a G3 (Goodwood) and a G2 (Newmarket) by a total of 11 lengths, tending to sit in midfield before pouncing. Versatile groundwise but may not want it very soft. |
| 9 | Churchill | A four-times G1 winner including the English and Irish 2000 Guineas, at Newmarket and The Curragh over 1600m earlier this season. Has a high cruising speed and great acceleration, though only seventh at Leopardstown (2000m) last month – meeting traffic but still disappointing. Soft ground may be a problem for him. |
| 10 | Lancaster Bomber | Amazingly this talented colt has only ever won a maiden race, but he’s four times second in G1’s. That includes his latest start when he was perhaps unlucky from a wide gate over this distance at Woodbine. Looks best on good or faster. |
| 11 | Nathra | She hasn’t won since April 2016 but she’s consistent and has been performing well at a high level over this sort of distance. Most recently she came from off the pace to grab third in a Newmarket G1 earlier this month. Good or soft ground suits. |
| 12 | Persuasive | Won her first five starts and though beaten four times subsequently they have all been solid efforts in G1 company. Most recently she fought hard in the closing stages when second in a 1600m G1 at Newmarket this month. Suited by good or slower ground. |
| 13 | Sir John Lavery | Has improved on his last three starts, winning a 1600m Listed race easily at Cork and twice running well in stronger G2 company since. Best on soft ground but ratings suggest that he needs to progress plenty more. |
| 14 | Thunder Snow | This well-travelled colt is very comfortable when leading, tactics resulting in a gate-to-wire G1 victory on good ground at Chantilly in July. He couldn’t quite hang on to his advantage over the straight 1600m at Deauville last time, soft ground then. Wearing cheek pieces on his last three starts. |
| 15 | Sea Of Grace | Second in a G1 at Deauville earlier in the season and she accelerated impressively from the back to easily win a Listed race at Haydock in August. Her stamina looked to run out over 2000m last time. She likes easy ground. |
Others
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