3 minute read

We've seen most of these raiders already and several are calling Australia home now so this is a recap.

The Queen Elizabeth Stakes is G3 over 2600m and here we see Le Don De Vie, Pondus, True Self and Attorney in the raiders' corner.

Le Don De Vie is by Leroidesanimaux who is also the sire of American Pharoah out of a Selkirk mare.  He used to be with Hughie Morrison before transferring to A&S Freedman.  He's a 4yo who has had 13 starts and placed in 8 including a second in the Geelong Cup where he was just pipped on the line.

Pondus comes from the stables of double-Melbourne Cup winning trainer Joseph O'Brien.  He's a 4yo by Sea The Moon and is owned by Melbourne Cup winning owner Lloyd Williams.  He's also a 4yo with 13 starts and 8 placings including a second in Bendigo.

True Self comes from Willie Mullins's yard and while famous for jumps horses he also has a good record with stayers.  He's a 7yo and won this race last year but hasn't done anything remarkable since then.

Attorney is a 5yo by Makfi who was transferred from Mikael Delzangles to Matt Smith and very lightly raced since then.  This prep he's looking better having won a G3 at Rosehill and coming 4th in the Randwick St Leger.

The Mackinnon is over 2000m and is G1.  For this exercise we are calling Melody Belle an honorary Aussie.  That leaves Mugatoo, who is a 5yo by Henrythenavigator out of a Tiger Hill mare.  He went from David Simcock in the UK to Kris Lees in March 2020 and since coming to Aus has had 7 starts and placed in 5 of them plus was 4th in the Cox Plate.

Skyward is a 4yo by Camelot out of a Giant's Causeway.  He moved from Fabrice Chappet in France to Busuttin-Young and has had 8 starts for 4 wins (only placing was 4th to the late and so lamented Anthony van Dyck in the Prix Foy.