With the world’s racing elite assembling in Sydney, it’s the ‘effervescent’ Gai Waterhouse that has the $10.6m price-tag heroine Alcohol Free all-out for the $5 Longines Queen Elizabeth.
Winning four Group 1 events at both 6 and 8 furlongs including the July Cup and Sussex Stakes, she’s also entered in The Star Doncaster Mile, Queen of The Turf Stakes and TJ Smith Stakes.
With 20 internationals descending on the Sydney Autumn Carnival, it’s the return of the Japanese after three years when Damon Premium ran third to Addeybb in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Only last month Japan’s five-times champion trainer Yoshito Yahagi claimed the $20m Saudi Cup, and now it’s Unicorn Lion who’s carrying 59kg wfa for the $5m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
In last winning the Fukushima Kinen in 2:00.2s for the 2000m on turf, at good to firm going, Unicorn Lion knows what’s required for Royal Randwick as he has also won in 2:00.73s for 2000m.
With the great Winx holding the Randwick 2000m class record of 2:01.65s, will we see another international winner as race-favourite Anamoe won the Caulfield Stakes 2000m in 2:03.88s.
At five years he won both the Natuo Kinen of 2000m and Yahiko Stakes at 1800m before being a good second to Triple Crown winner Chrono Genesis in the valuable Takarazuka Kinen of 2200m.
Not being raced at two-years, he won his first race start over 1800m at three, before being second in the Tsubaki Sho and then going onto win the Yakumo Tokubetsu and Matsumae Tokubetsu.
A non-winner at four years in being second in the Shinshun Stakes, Unicorn Lion was bred by Desert Star Phoenix and is a 850,000 Gns 2017 Tattersalls October Book 1 Yearling Sale graduate.
Sired by Coolmore’s highly prized No Nay Never, he’s a half-brother to French Champion 2yo Colt and sire The Wow Signal and stakes winner Miss Infinity, from the High Chaparral mare Muravka.
With Yoshito Yahagi having Panthalassa fancied in both the Dubai World Cup and Dubai Turf following victory in the $20m Saudi Cup, he’s also won the Dubai Turf with Panthalassa and Real Steel.
In being no stranger to Australia he had Lys Gracieux take out the Cox Plate, both Love Only You and Marche Lorraine win at the 2021 Breeders Cup and Contrail the Japan Cup and Triple Crown.
Partnering Unicorn Lion is Ho O Amazon, who’s heading for the Schweppes All Aged Stakes having won both the Arlington Cup and Nojigiku Stakes at 1600m, and being multiple Group placed.
Britain’ William Haggas needs no introduction as he’s already had Addeybb win successive Longiners Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and now has Dubai Honour entered along with the Ranvet Stakes.
Also suited to distance and conditions of the Queen Elizabeth, he’s had three wins at 1¼m including the Prix Dollar and Prix Guillaume d’Ornano, and was twice Group 2 second placed last year.
Sired by the Coolmore Australia shuttler Pride of Dubai, he was a 110,000 Gns Tattersalls October Yearling Sale graduate, from the Montjeu mare Mondelice, who later sold for 775,000 Gns.
William Haggas also has Prix de Sandringham winner Purplepay first-up in the Coolmore Classic, 2 mile winner Early of Tyrone in the 3200m Sydney Cup and Protagonist for The Star Doncaster Mile.
The magical Joseph O’Brien now targets Sydney having won the Melbourne Cup with Rekindling winning in 2017 and Twilight Payment 2020, and the Cox Plate with 3yo State of Rest in 2021.
Firstly, his Irish St Leger Trial winner Raise You is set for the Ranvet Stakes of 2000m at WFA on 18 March, before stepping up to the 3200m of the Schweppes Sydney Cup where he’s on 54 kg.
Also heading for the Sydney Cup is his Belmont Gold Cup winner Baron Samedi weighted on 55kg, Cleveland, the Chester Cup winner is 51kg, 50 kg for staying 4yo Temple of Artemis, while Statement is in-line for the Coolmore and Queen of The Turf.
