Prepared by master mentor Anthony Cummings, Road To Rock went onto the field as the hot $3.30 favourite following Friday’s scratching of Rangirangdoo.

The 2010 Queen Elizabeth Stakes was to be a rematch between the top two Doncaster Mile performers, but the scratching made it a one horse race with Road To Rock’s comprehensive win.

After sitting back early on, Road To Rock charged to the front halfway down the home straight and held on to defeat the Chris Waller-trained Triple Honour ($12) by a widening two lengths.

AJC third placegetter Monaco Consul made it back-to-back Group 1 third place finishes, crossing the line another three-quarters of a length away from Triple Honour.

Road To Rock, a son of Encosta De Lago, was again ridden by the experienced and skilful Damien Oliver. Oliver has now started a three week suspension from riding after he was found to have weighed in a kilo overweight when he rode Road To Rock to a narrow defeat in the Doncaster Mile.

Oliver will, however, be back in the saddle by May 16 when five-year-old Road To Rock seeks glory overseas in the $3 million Singapore International Airlines Cup (2000m).

In six wins from 34 starts, Road To Rock has now secured over $1.15 million in prizemoney.

Saturday at Randwick was the final meeting of the coveted Sydney autumn carnival and other highlight events included the $400, 000 Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) won by Jessicabeel, now looking at a run in the 2010 Melbourne Cup.

Results of the 2010 Queen Elizabeth Stakes:

There are four great Group 1 features scheduled for the day, but as well as these a range of other exciting black type races will also run including the $150,000 Group 2 Emirates Emancipation Stakes (1600m) set to jump at 1:40pm as race three.

The Gai Waterhouse-trained Gold Water will start as the hot pre-race favourite

One runner has emerged as the hot pre-race favourite out of the 16 contending fillies and mares, the Gai Waterhouse-trained Gold Water currently at $3 with IASbet.

But with the four-year-old Choisir mare drawn out wide in barrier 14, other females with claims include Sacred Choice jumping from barrier one, the Anthony Cummings-trained Prima Nova, and John O’Shea’s improving Strawberry Field.

A full preview of the 2010 Emancipation Stakes can be found by clicking on the race name.

To read the final field and previews for the Saturday’s Group 1 features including the coveted $400,000 Sydney Cup (3200m) and the $350,000 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), visit the news page on this site where you will find all the latest information on this weekend’s Randwick races.

Final Field & Barriers for the 2010 Emancipation Stakes:

Sydney’s Randwick Racecourse will be home to a premier line-up of Group races on Saturday as of the autumn carnival’s final race meeting gets underway.

As part of the action on Sydney Cup Day, nine great gallopers will take to the track at 2:55pm when race five, the $350,000 Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), runs.

The 2010 Queen Elizabeth Stakes is set to be a scintillating showdown between the two horses that ran the quinella in last Saturday’s Group 1 Doncaster Mile, the Chris Waller-trained Rangirangdoo and Anthony Cummings’ Road To Rock.

Following his win Rangirangdoo will start as the hot favourite currently at $2.35 for a win with IASbet.

The ever improving five-year-old Pentire gelding will jump out wide from barrier eight on Saturday with in-form hoop Nash Rawiller aboard, which if the track is soft will suit him well as he attempts back-to-back Group 1 glory.

Road To Rock, on the other hand, has drawn on the inside in barrier two. Due to be ridden by Damien Oliver, he has drifted out to $7 in the betting markets with many expecting the 2000m distance to be too testing for the son of Encosta De Lago.

The last run Road To Rock had over 2000m was in the Ranvet Stakes where he placed a well-beaten ninth behind Theseo.

But Road To Rock was beaten by just a half-neck in the Doncaster and Oliver, who has been freed for Saturday’s ride before starting his related suspension, weighed in 1kg over Road To Rock’s allocated Doncaster weight, which many said cost him the win.

Second favourite for the 2010 Queen Elizabeth Stakes currently paying $4.60 with IASbet is Monaco Consul, also drawn wide in barrier nine, who along with the Lee Freedman-trained Doctor Fremantle is one of only two runners not backing up a run in last weekend’s Doncaster Mile.

The three-year-old High Chaparral colt has had just one start in Australia this year when he placed an eye-catching third to Shoot Out in the Group 1 AJC Derby (2400m).

On Saturday, the Kiwi runner will be ridden by Jay Ford, who has not been aboard Monaco Consol since their upset win in the Spring Champion Stakes last year.

Other runners to watch include Villers Stakes winner Palacio De Cristal in barrier four and Rangirangdoo’s stablemate Triple Honour in barrier five with big race jockey Hugh Bowman aboard.

For more information and the latest news on the 2010 Queen Elizabeth Stakes follow the link or visit Australia’s premier racing site Races.com.au.

There are three other excellent Group 1 races taking place at Randwick on Saturday, with previews for all of them including the $400,000 Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) available on the News page on this site.

2010 Queen Elizabeth Stakes Final Field & Barriers

The big race of the day that will be drawing the crowds and punters is the $100 000 Listed Australia Day Cup (2400m).

A star studded field of nine are engaged in the event, including the Gai Waterhouse-trained Rabbuka and Anthony Cummings’ Zavite.

Six-year-old Rabbuka is coming off a brilliant win ahead of Spinney in the Frank Underwood Cup at Rosehill a fortnight ago. The Giant’s Causeway gelding has drawn barrier five and will be ridden by Blake Shinn who was onboard for his Underwood Cup victory.

Rabbuka is also the top weighted horse in the Australia Day Cup, carrying 59.5kg. His only concern will be the step up in distance to 2400m as he has never won at a distance greater than 2000m in his eight career wins.

Zavite, carrying the second heaviest weight of 59kg, has drawn the far outside barrier nine, the experienced seven-year-old winner of the Group 2 Ajax Stakes will have in-form hoop Glyn Schofield riding him on Tuesday.

Top training team Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes have their five-year-old Zabeel gelding, Rainbow Styling entered in the race. Rainbow Styling will be ridden by Jim Cassidy, has won his past two starts and will start from barrier six.

Currently sitting second on the NSW Metropolitan Trainers Premiership board, leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller will be represented in the Australia Day Cup by his runner Come On Cugat, drawn ideally in barrier three.

The lightweights of the field all carrying 53kg are the Peter Moody-trained Fairygem (br.2), Brave Lancer (br.7), Just Jammin (br.8) and Karim gaining the inside running with barrier one.

The Australia Day Cup will run as race five on the day’s super eight-race programme.

2010 Australia Day Cup Final Field & Barrier Draw: