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:

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:

Keshi ($4.60) took out the second race of the day, the Oncidon Handicap (1100m) a length ahead of the Gai Waterhouse-trained Tell Tale ($16) with Dublette a short neck back for third.

Snowden now leads with 39 wins ahead of Waller with 37. Waterhouse is still in contention sitting in third with 32 wins.

Snowden’s success did not stop there however, he also went on to train third-placegetter in race four, Shameless, who came in 1 ¾ lengths behind the winner Trauma before taking out the final race of the meeting with Brasileira.

The favourite at $4.20, Brasileira crossed the line first ¾ of a length ahead of Brisk Crown with the Anthony Cummings-trained Togha in third.

Chris Waller did have some success on the day, taking out the opening race at the Randwick meeting.

It was a fast finishing and entertaining start to the day as Waller’s Key West ($16) defeated the Gai Waterhouse-trained Samui Lad ($12) by a mere short half head with the favourite at $1.40, St Augustine, coming in a long head back for third.

He also placed second with Needwood Lad in the sixth race, 2 ½ lengths behind the David Payne-trained Buccaneers Prize.

Prolific trainer Gai Waterhouse has a few handy gallopers competing at Randwick on Saturday, including her strong stayer Lorne Dancer in the opening race, the Randwick Betting Auditorium Handicap (1600m). Lorne Dancer is currently second favourite at $3.20 behind the John O’Shea-trained Informality at $2.70.

Waterhouse’s other strong chance at the meeting is with three-year-old Kinnersley in race five, the Naturalism Handicap (1600m). Kinnersley is the clear favourite in the betting markets at $3.40 following his sensational win at the same track on New Year’s Day, and will start from barrier four.

Judicial in race two, the Mahogany Handicap (1200m) is the other last-start victor for Waterhouse backing up on Saturday. Judicial is currently second favourite at $3.50 behind the Peter Snowden-trained Killian at $2.50.

Talented jockey Hugh Bowman has picked up the rides for the Waterhouse at Randwick, following the stable’s two other star riders, Nash Rawiller and Blake Shinn, both engaged at the Gold Coast Magic Millions this weekend.

Bowman will also mount two-year-old Spot The Rock in his debut in the Autumn Carnival Package On Sale Now Handicap (1000m) for trainer Tim Martin from barrier one; the Chris Waller-trained Bright Mind in the Eremein Handicap (2000m); Visa Lisa in the Octagonal Handicap (1200m); and Ourbillydakid in the closing race of the day the BIG6 Jackpot Today Handicap.

The Randwick Racecourse gates open at 11:30am and the first race of the eight-event programme is due to commence at 1:10pm.

Randwick Race Programme – Saturday January 9:

The opening race on a mega eight-race programme, this year’s Villiers Stakes’ nominations are in and the 17 hopefuls include a top quality collection of runners including Ipswich Cup winner Our Lukas.

Queensland trainer Robbie Heathcote is vying for his first Sydney victory with Our Lukas in the Villiers on Saturday after coming an unlucky second in the Listed Heritage Stakes in September with Funtantes.

Our Lukas is also nominated for an Open Handicap event at Doomben on Saturday, with Heathcote making his decision on which race to run the dual Listed winner in later in the week.

Peter Snowden, coming off a sensational set of four victories at Rosehill last weekend, has three runners nominated, Gosford Cup winner Spinney, Offenders and Togni as he attempts his first Villiers victory.

Meanwhile the prolific Gai Waterhouse is expected to pay up for both her nominees Rockwood and Rabbuka as she aims for a second win in the race following her victory back in 2005 with Aqua D’Amore.

The trainer dominating the Sydney trainer’s premiership this season with 33 city winners to date, Chris Waller will also face off against Snowden and Waterhouse on Saturday when he starts Love And Kisses in the Villiers. Waller has also won the race once before in 2007 by protest with Honor In War.