By Dane Squance
Attempting to win her 17th straight race and 11th at Group 1 level – or should we just say 'set to win'…either way, Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) will start at prohibitive odds in the Championships showcase race, the $4m G1 Longines Queen Elizabeth S. (2000m). The only last start winner in the nine-strong field, in fact one of only two winners this campaign, Winx and Hugh Bowman will jump away from barrier three, where she is likely to settle a little closer than her last few runs. Arguably in career best form, last start G1 Doncaster H. runner-up Happy Clapper (Aus) (Teofilo {Ire}) is yet to win at the distance, but his third in the race 12 months prior indicates that while he may be at the limit of his distance range, the Pat Webster-trained gelding is likely to find himself in the money once again.
Godolphin's contender Hartnell (GB) (Authorized {Ire}), a pleasing second over 2000m of the G1 Ranvet S. in mid-March when not appearing entirely comfortable on the heavy 10 track, is likely to get conditions more to his favour here and on his usual form is clear a top three contender. Dropping back from his Group 1 third over 2400m, Lee and Anthony Freedman's import Exospheric (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}) has two wins and two placed efforts from five starts at the trip, and with a track surface more to his liking on Saturday, the 5-year-old entire is in with a place chance.
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