 Queen Elizabeth Classic Final  2200 Dirt 29th March 2012 |
This Season's Contenders
| Horse : Majestic Fantasy, Tarnyar, Eccellenza Suecia | Trainer : Shotgun Mike |
Majestic Fantasy looks comfortable on the dirt and her form suggests that she would not be too inconvenienced by either fast or muddy but to produce her greatest effort in this final, fast ground would suit. She has been extremely unlucky in all of her four finals and this race may just be her time to shine. 2lb extra on her back will not effect her too much. In comparison, Tarnyar's 4lb penalty is likely to slow her somewhat and that could be the telling factor for her chance in this race but the interesting runner of the trio is Eccellenza Suecia. It's hard to believe that she is still only on five wins and appears to have been around for ages. She is probably better on turf than she is on dirt but I have a suspicion that she will run a major race, if the ground comes up muddy.
| Horse : Champagne Opel, Chicquita, Wakeful | Trainer : Sky Castle Stables |
After winning last season, she will be aiming to become the first filly to win the Queen Elizabeth, back to back. There has only ever been one horse to win this race twice in their career and that was Trouble N' Strife who hit the line in front in 2006/2007 but they were not consecutive. If Champagne Opel is going to complete the feat, she will have to rely on muddy ground over fast, as I think her 4lb penalty will be difficult to muster on the sounder surface. She has a couple more seasons to try and emulate Trouble N' Strife’s two wins in the race and she cannot be omitted in this. Chicquita has an almost perfect record on fast going over 2200m, four from five efforts have produced a win, all in challenge company. I guess her chance will rely on this ground but she does look to biting a little more than she can chew. A place with a good run is not beyond the realms of possibility. The one that jumps out is the third runner in the silks, Wakeful. She was outstanding when winning The Oaks on muddy ground and a repeat of that run will see her go close, very close. I think she has the upper hand on her stable mate, on muddy, and although she has never recorded a win on fast ground, she has consistency in her make-up. She has been aimed at this, rather than combine her efforts in the Cesarewitch, which could be a tip in itself. A very likely winner of this race with the run of the race and conditions to suit.
| Horse : Olivia | Trainer : Thechosenone |
Olivia won the biggest riches on offer when winning the juvenile series on yielding ground, yet, since that win, she has gone completely off the boil. She hasn't won a race in twenty outings, her last win coming six days after her juvenile championship success. Muddy ground will serve her better than fast but even off the minimum weight, it does seem a difficult proposal to mention her as a potential champion based on recent efforts. A return to form looked ok when last tackling the dirt, with the blinkers off, she ran a close second. I wouldn't say she is the outsider of the race, no way, she has pedigree but can she put it all in on the night and emerge a dual challenge champion? Maybe, who knows!
| Horse : Pam's Angel | Trainer : Halligan Racing Club |
2200m in challenge company, seems to be a bit sharp for Pam's Angel. She has won over the distance, however, the three wins have come in lesser company, two in graded races. That statistic doesn't whet my appetite to suggest she will be a danger in this. I think this test will be too stern and her extra 4lb penalty will only add to the challenge she faces. She is young enough to have another pop at a Liz, though I think if she is to turn up to a track with winning aspirations, it will have to be over 2400m.
| Horse : Special Delight, Mighty Metropolis | Trainer : Derekw10 |
Both of the yards runners in this final are of very similar quality. Both will prefer muddy but the edge would have to go to Mighty Metropolis by virtue of no weight penalty. They both appeared in The Oaks final, won by Olivia, and on that day, Mighty Metropolis held her stable mate with a little in hand and she can do the same in this race also. There are horses who will yearn the same conditions, who have better attributes but with a good run, either of this pairing could make the frame.
| Horse : Tyche | Trainer : Green Bay Stable |
Tyche doesn't perform well on muddy ground and everything rests on receiving fast conditions to race on. She has struggled in her three challenge final appearances in her career and now in her final season, has one last chance to put that form behind her and produce a decent effort. If she is to go out with a bang, everything will need to go in her favour and that could mean others failing, it looks a tall order.
| Horse : Lady Angler | Trainer : Pkr Player |
Lady Angler is an interesting prospect in the race. She is clearly a 2200m specialist at which, her best efforts have come on muddy ground. Her two qualifying wins over the trip have come in second instance races, which may indicate she is a little behind a few of these in terms of quality. That said, she doesn't look like a horse that you would immediately strike off your list but with better animals around her, it will be difficult to win this, though, with a little lady luck, I think she can run a decent race.
| Horse : Natusik Polukhina | Trainer : Julissilas |
This horse has had the right going, at the right time. The dual champion is right up there with the best on fast or firm going, the goings that have brought the silverware home for her previous master. A recent auction sale, her new yard will be hoping that her rich vein of form in 2200m finals, continues. The task in hand will be made a little more difficult with 4lbs added, since she last won this race, two seasons ago. She, like Champagne Opel before her will aim to become only the second horse to win this race twice in their career. Tricky, yes, impossible, no!
| Horse : Foxy Mama | Trainer : North And South |
Lining up in her first challenge final, she is faced with a very difficult challenge ahead. There is no doubt that the trip is ideal and she is a mud lark. There is a line of form from her Oaks campaign that reads well in defeat. She had three of this final line-up behind, with only race winner, Wakeful, a half length or so ahead. It is fair to say that, Olivia and Chicquita would have the upper hand on that form, they did not get the run of the race there and can easily reverse that effort. I don't think any post race discussion will have her being congratulated as the winner but she may surprise even me!
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