The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is no stranger to throwing up a surprise result. Cicero’s Gift was a 100/1 winner of the contest last season, and Bayside Boy was a 33/1 winner in 2022 as Baaeed failed to land the odds and remain unbeaten at 1/4F.
The mile division has largely been dominated by Bow Echo this season and several of the runners in this field have been beaten by him. However, in his absence, the contest looks wide open this season and is still littered with Group 1 level stars.
Talk Of New York
Supplemented for a fee of £70,000 after his Joel Stakes demolition, Talk Of New York bids to give Charlie Appleby his first win in the race. He successfully beat the eldest the first time of asking there, and looked much more furnished than he had when keen in his last two starts including behind Bow Echo and Gstaad.
Rayif
Graffard is no stranger to success in this race having won it with The Revenant, and he fields Rayif. The Sea The Moon colt is two from three this season, which began with a win in the French 2000 Guineas.
Following defeat down in trip, he returned to form in August to beat Zeus Olympios and Precise in the Prix Jacques Le Marois.
Gstaad
Despite seemingly heading for the Champion Stakes as stablemate Constitution River was supplemented into the QEII, Coolmore return to plan A and play another late switcheroo as Gstaad was declared for the mile contest.
The Breeders’ Cup hero landed the Irish 2000 Guineas in strong style this season, but has failed to match the level of Bow Echo in three starts either start of that nor could he land the odds in the Prix du Moulin. The yard’s runners were under something of a cloud last month, so better can be expected.
Zavateri
Zavateri lowered the colours of Gstaad last season when taking the National Stakes and despite an injury blighted start to the season, he proved he’d trained on when an excellent winner of the Celebration Mile against the older horses, receiving the highest RPR of the race in the last ten years.
This will be his swansong and he’s had more time than most to prepare, thus he shouldn’t be underestimated particularly given his record going right handed.
The Field
Ten Bob Tony was a surprise winner of the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, but the form has worked out terrifically well and while he’s not won since, he’s held his own in Group 1 company.
Behind him there was More Thunder, who’s remained consistent in defeat this season prior to getting off the mark at Doncaster. He’s been behind most of these this season, and is yet to confirm he’s the strongest of stayers of a mile at this level.
Zeus Olympios was behind that pair at Royal Ascot and is the deputy of Bow Echo, who would’ve flown the flag for the owner had he not been injured. However, given his Summer Mile win and Prix Jacques le Marois’ neck second, he’s certainly not out of contention.
Docklands was behind the aforementioned trio at Ascot but his course record suggests he can’t be ruled out. His form figures here read 1132221476, including two close efforts on this card.
Hawk Mountain was a Futurity winner last season and finished three quarters of a length second to Constitution River in the French Derby, but he’s sadly become a pacemaker since for his Coolmore counterparts and the suspicion is that’ll be the plan once more.
Dancing Gemini has had multiple close efforts in Group 1 company throughout his career, but his progress appears to have stagnated this term despite a three length fourth in the Lockinge, he needs sharp improvement.
Needle Match remains fairly unexposed after just five races, but he was pitched in deep for a 2000 Guineas on just his third run and can be forgiven for racing keenly on heavy ground at Haydock last time out.