QE Stakes for Kiwi mare

12 December 2014

The $A4 million Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) will be Lucia Valentina’s prime target in the autumn.

Trainer Kris Lees has yet to confirm the path the New Zealand-owned and bred mare will take toward the Randwick feature.

The Gr.1 Turnbull Stakes winner and Gr.1 Caulfield Cup placegetter is back in pre-training for her autumn campaign and is now also a stablemate of this year’s Gr.1 Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist.

The Corner with Garry Chittick

And so, another Melbourne Cup has been run. Regretfully, Mary and I were not there. I have no idea how many we attended up until COVID, and I miss the Cup week. Victoria prides itself as the sporting capital of Australia; it may be, they certainly know how to create an event.

2 November 2026

De Armas to Back Up in G1 VRC Oaks

New Zealand-bred filly De Armas is set to back up in Thursday’s Gr.1 Victoria Oaks (2500m) at Flemington following her dominant win in the Gr.2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at the Melbourne track on Derby Day.