Sixty nine horses remain in the hunt for next month’s $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes, the headline event of the Championships, following Monday’s first acceptances.
A total of 43 initial Queen Elizabeth entrants did not pay up the $220 first acceptance payment.
Importantly, all the headline horses – Fiorente, It’s A Dundeel, Appearance, Boban, Green Moon, Royal Descent and Sacred Falls were among the first acceptors.
So, too, the cavalcade of outstanding three-year-old, headlined by Cox Plate Australian Guineas winner Shamus Award, Randwick Guineas winner Dissident, Thousand Guineas winner Guelph and New Zealand Derby winner Puccini.
The past two Melbourne Cup winners – Fiorente and Green Moon – as well as last year’s Sydney Cup winner Mourayan – remain in the chase for the $1 million Sydney Cup.
After Monday’s first acceptances, a total of 54 horses – down nearly 50 per cent from the initial entry – were left in the Randwick Group 1 on April 19.
Gai Waterhouse’s initial entry number of 19 Cup nominations has fallen to 10 with the most notable withdrawals being former French stayer Tres Blue, Michangelo and Travolta.
Chris Waller still holds eight Sydney Cup nominations with Mornington Cup winner Instrumentalist the only defection from his original entries.
Lloyd Williams, who has won two of the past six Sydney Cups, has four still in the nominations – Green Moon, Massiyn, Mourayan and Tanby.
Nigel Blackiston didn’t pay up for Outback Joe nor did Tony MvEvoy make the payment for Big Memory, which started favorite in the Adelaide Cup, but faded to finish 11th..
Perth Cup winner Black Tycoon, a gallant second with 59kg, is still in the Sydney Cup entries.
– Racing Network
