3 minute read

Camelot entire to tackle Group 1 en route to Queen Elizabeth Stakes

Sir Dragonet (Camelot) will line-up in Saturday’s Ranvet Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) at Rosehill with co-trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace believing the wet conditions will bring out the best in the son of Camelot (Montjeu).  

The Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) winner will run in the Group 1 and will likely tackle the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) at Randwick on April 10. 

The five-year-old was not among the original field of five runners for the Ranvet last Saturday, but was added when nominations were reopened. 

After winning the Cox Plate at The Valley last October and then running sixth in the Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m), the entire has run disappointingly twice this campaign, resuming with a seventh place finish in the C F Orr Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) and he was last seen finishing ninth in the All-Star Mile (1600m) on March 13. 

"I think both starts, you can put a line through," Eustace told RSN. 

"It was an error in judgement by us really first-up. 

"He trialled well, but he caught us out, he wasn't sharp enough and then the All-Star Mile, it was an incredibly messy race if you were in behind horses. 

"He was pretty fresh as well and wasn't at any stage able to get into a rhythm. His closing sectionals were OK, particularly for a horse that's best performances are at 2000 (metres) and beyond. 

"Although the results don't show it, we are confident that he goes into the race on Saturday, over 10 furlongs, on wet ground, in the right condition.

"What we're hoping for is the Ranvet gets him back on track for the Queen Elizabeth.”