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“The Cox Plate of the autumn”: Why Gareth Hall thinks this showdown will be the best of the carnival
Ethan Clark • February 12th, 2025 1:08 pm
Gareth Hall believes the Queen Elizabeth Stakes now holds claim to the best race of the autumn carnival.
The 2000m Group 1 race taken out in extraordinary fashion by Pride Of Jenni in 2024 will be run on April 12 and is worth $5 million; hence the immense international interest.
Hall pressed his case to The Straight's Founder and Managing Editor Bren O'Brien as to why the weight-for-age clash is his most anticipated in the next couple of months.
“Is the Queen Elizabeth (Stakes) now the biggest race of the carnival and in the country in the autumn?” he said on Giddy Up.
“I think the top three would be (made up of) the Golden Slipper, the All-Star Mile, some would say the Australian Cup and then the Queen Elizabeth.
“I think the Queen Elizabeth is the Cox Plate of the autumn.
“You’ll have Dubai Honour, then you’ll have those horse that Yulong have purchased like Moira… the best performed mare in the (United) States last year. Then the stablemate that defeated her the previous start Full Count Felicia who looks like she’s exciting and you’ve got the Japanese. It will be interesting.”
O'Brien was less convinced, throwing up the 1200m TJ Smith worth $3 million run one week earlier than the Queen Elizabeth as his favourite dual of the season.
“It is a fascinating race because it creates that crossroad aspect and the Yulong aspect in Australia adds to it as well,” he said.
“When you’ve got these highly credentialled international horses contesting that race it does make it fascinating.
“I think you left the TJ Smith (out), I love the TJ Smith as a race.
“It’s often won by the best sprinter even though it wasn’t last year because of the nature of the track.
“It’s a challenge back to Victoria’s court. They’ve planned out the All-Star Mile, they’ve planned out the autumn carnival but the ones we anticipate the most are the ones (in Sydney).”
Via Sistina is currently the $2.50 favourite with Sportsbet for the Queen Elizabeth, while Switzerland is the $6 favourite for the TJ.
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