Victorian mare Ladies In Red Photo by HRV
A close draw has given star Victorian Ladies In Red the advantage over classy Kiwi Aardies Express in their much-anticipated clash in Saturday night’s Pryde’s Easifeed Queen Elizabeth II Mile at Menangle.
The trans-Tasman battle will be one of the highlights of Ladies Night at Menangle, which features four Group 1 races for the girls across both the pacing and trotting disciplines.
Ladies In Red and Aardies Express both come into the Queen Elizabeth II Mile as last start winners and were sharing favouritism before the barrier draw but the number two marble for Ladies In Red has seen the market swing heavily in her favour.
The multiple Group 1 winner has only tasted defeat seven times in 32 starts and will be extremely hard to beat after drawing wide and working but proving a class above last start at Melton.
Interestingly she has been beaten in both previous visits to Menangle but has been the benchmark mare in Australia in recent seasons and will be heavily favoured to add another G1 win to her impressive record.
Aardies Express does pose a huge threat having made a brilliant start in Australia when she drew wide and worked before scoring a G3 win in the Sibelia Stakes at this circuit.
That took her record at this distance to four from four and she has won two of three second-up attempts so can be expected to have come on.
She'll likely to have to work again from another wide draw but she is tough and talented.
Rakero Rebel could offer some value having beaten several of these mares with a late burst to win last week's G3 Robin Dundee Stakes.
She draws wider so may need some luck but she is now two from two at this circuit and four from four at the distance.
She showed last week she can unleash a powerful late burst so if the two big guns create a high-pressure affair she could be dangerous.
Ladies in Red's trainer Emma Stewart has a second contender in Treachery, who was strong late from a wide barrier last week. She is better served by this draw and will be fitter again third up.
Stewart has a big chance at a Group 1 double as she'll send unbeaten filly Very Pretty out as a hot favourite in the John Gibson Memorial NSW Oaks.
The brilliant Victorian was a class above her rivals in last week's heats, leading from a wider barrier before drawing away to cruise home by 17.5m.
That was her first attempt at this circuit and distance and it extended her undefeated run to seven.
She'll be at her peak third up and will be tough to stop.
Millwood Bliss has placed behind Very Pretty the three times they clashed in last year's Breeders Crown series but the low draw gives her a shot at turning the tables.
She is unbeaten at Menangle having kicked off the campaign with back-to-back wins including the G3 Raith Memorial and was strong when coming from the back row to beat older rivals at Goulburn last Sunday.
Lux Aeterna is another that goes in unbeaten at Menangle, stretching her perfect record at the circuit to six when leading throughout in last week's heat.
She'll have to overcome a wider draw on Saturday but is back in form after putting together a couple of rare unplaced efforts earlier in her campaign.
Jilliby Illuminate was an eye catcher last week when closing strongly behind Lux Aeterna in her heat.
She is lightly raced but has yet to miss a place and has upside as does Our Ultimate Ebony who beat Lux Aeterna home when winning the Young Oaks last start so is worth including in the exotics.
Victoria is also well represented in the two trotting features, starting with the Group 1 Haras Des Trotteurs NSW Trotters Oaks.
Margaret Lee's Keayang Zahara steps up to this company quickly but has been impressive in winning her two starts in Victoria by big margins.
She has come from the back row each time, last start racing wide before finding the front and cruising home by 24m at Melton.
She should enjoy a soft run from the ace draw so gets every chance to take the next step.
Nordic Reign ended last campaign with a G1 win in the Breeders Crown at Melton and was readied for this with a second when tackling the boys at this circuit.
Won her lone second-up attempt so she'll be improved and draws well.
Centurion Dream is another that will be fitter for the resuming second against the males at this venue.
She was G1 placed behind Nordic Reign last campaign and is another drawn to be in the action.
Maoris Mac surged home to win the Nutrien Classic last start at Melton.
She was only second-up there so could progress further while We Can Have It All was third in that race after kicking off the campaign with back-to-back wins so deserves respect.
Accomplished mare Queen Elida makes her return to Australia in the Group 1 Slingsby Holdings Macarthur Mile for the trotting mares after two brave efforts to place against the boys in New Zealand, last time fighting strongly for third to Just Believe in the rich TAB Trot.
She was beaten into a place behind race rival Im Ready Jet in her last attempt in Australia in a G1 for the mares but came from the back row on that occasion so is much better served by this draw.
She is two from two at this circuit and distance and represents the class runner.
Last season's Victoria Oaks winner Shes Ruby Roo cops a wide draw but is on the up, making it back-to-back wins when beating the boys here last week. She is a contender with a touch of luck.
Im Ready Jet has had a tough draw and a big handicap in two starts since beating Queen Elida for a G1 win at Melton so can show her best from this favourable draw.
Funky Monkey hasn't drawn this close to the pegs for a long time and returned to winning form in the Goulburn Cup last Sunday while Queenslander Funny Face comes into this third up and it wouldn't surprise to see feature from the ace draw.
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