FEATURE PREVIEWS: QUEEN OF THE TURF STAKES

Group 1 | WFA, 3YO+, Fillies and Mares | $2,000,000 | Rail: +3m | Track Conditions: Good 4

Group 1 for the fillies and mares. Gai Waterhouse has won this race on 8 occasion. 8 fillies and 22 mares have won in the last 30 years.

Chris Waller has won the last two and looks a leading chance to make it three on end with the brilliant Fangirl likely to start a short favourite.

HISTORICAL PROFILING (LAST 10 YEARS)

•  1st/2nd up (1/13), 3rd up (3/30), 4th up (2/51), 5th up (4/40), 6th up (0/15)
•  5-7-day break (3/21), 14-day break (6/70), 21-22-day break (1/29), 28+day break (0/19)
•  Settled 1st-4th (4), Settled 6th-9th (2), Settled 11th-14th (4)
•  Barrier 1-3 (4/30), Barrier 4-8 (5/50), Barrier 9+ (1/69)
•  3yo (2/22), 4yo (3/50), 5yo (3/46), 6yo (1/27), 7yo (1/4)
•  Key leadup races have been the Doncaster (3), Emancipation (4), Vinery (2), Sunline (1)
•  Last Start Under 1500m (0/11), 1500m (4/67), 1600m (4/44), 2000m (2/16)
•  Last Start Class G1/G2 (10/123), Others (0/27)
•  SP Rank 1-2 (1/20)
•  Gear Change (0/26)

Zougotcha won the race in 2024, with a $4.36 BSP, which was still a staggering 15.4% better than best tote post commission.

Atishu caused a mini upset at nearly $11 in 2023, which was on parity with the corporate average.

GRINZINGER BELL the clear leader and she will set an above average tempo. There is not a lot of pressure in behind her but a few draw awkwardly and will be looking to slot in. The race favourite, FANGIRL looks set to enjoy a lovely run in transit from barrier 6.

Again, we are faced with a short-priced favourite that will have her backers and layers. We talk about #1 FANGIRL who looks suited with three weeks between runs back up to a mile. She was run of the race and arguably run of the day in the George Ryder when off fence and charging to run second. First, third and fourth in that race were all fence in run and that was significantly better going throughout the day. #2 STEFI MAGNETICA was good there and she too was off fence. She came from that run to win the Doncaster last Saturday and is now on the back up. Is this an afterthought? Can she turn the tables on FANGIRL? STEFI MAGNETICA is a brilliant horse but she was suited by a dash home in the Doncaster and we have to side with FANGIRL again here. Honestly think that’s the race and one of these two will win. The 3YO fillies form is good and #12 LAZZURA measured up in the Emancipation, running second to #5 LEKVARTE with #7 COEUR VOLANTE in fourth. Not sure that form is good enough to beat #1 FANGIRL. The only reservation we have with FANGIRL is she is now deeper into her campaign but three weeks between runs does look a nice set up.

#3 ATISHU and #4 AMELIA’S JEWEL have class. ATISHU is 2000 back to mile which is a profile the stable love with her and she has had success with it. Last time off the same set up she won the Empire Rose vs AMELIA’S JEWEL. She was 2000 back to a mile in this race last year missed a pimple to Zougotcha. Same set up ran 3^rd in the Ingham ’22. Hard to knock that.

#1 FANGIRL
#2 STEFI MAGNETICA
#12 LAZZURA
#3 ATISHU