Our original AI picks three notable runners in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup
Wednesday, 06 November, 2024 19:47
Saliera (Photo: Yuki Shimono)
There are four graded stakes scheduled for JRA fixtures this weekend, including the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Kyoto Racecourse. Here are three notable runners in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup chosen by our original AI.
Wholeness made her debut in April 2023 in a maiden race, finishing second in a close head-to-head with Makoto Velikij, who has since moved up to Open Class. Given that it was her first race against experienced runners, this was a noteworthy performance. She followed that effort with a three-race winning streak, climbing from a maiden to two-win class. Two starts ago, she took on her first graded race in the G3 Mermaid Stakes, finishing third and demonstrating graded-stakes-level ability.
In her last race, the Listed Niigata Himba Stakes, Wholeness was again taking on stronger company. She raced mid-pack and surged down the outside in the stretch, winning decisively by one-and-a-half lengths. Her record now stands at six starts with four wins, a second, and a third. Importantly, three of her four victories have come at 2200 meters on turf, the same distance as the Queen Elizabeth II Cup, demonstrating her adaptability to this type of non-traditional distance. With her untapped potential, she has a solid chance against G1 contenders.
Saliera, in her previous start, the G2 All Comers, tracked the leaders but faded early in the stretch to finish a disappointing 12th. This was her first race since the G1 Tenno Sho (Spring), so she may have needed the run, making it hard to dismiss her performance entirely. In last year's Queen Elizabeth II Cup, she finished sixth but recorded the fastest closing fraction, closing the gap to just 0.3 seconds behind the winner. Her sister Salacia finished second in this race, suggesting the conditions, a 2200m turf race restricted to fillies and mares, suit her pedigree. Although her recent form has been lacking, the change in conditions could spark a turnaround.
Conch Shell won her way out of the three-win class in February and promptly claimed her first graded-stakes title by leading from start to finish in the G3 Nakayama Himba Stakes. In her last three races, she has taken the lead each time, though she has not maintained it to the finish. Her defeat in the G1 Victoria Mile was likely due to the top-class competition and the shorter distance. Of her five career wins, four came at 1800m on turf, indicating that the mile distance may have been too short for her. Additionally, her last two races had gaps of 10 weeks, which may have affected her performance.
Conch Shell's record shows that she performs best with a layoff of no more than four weeks, with all four of her wins (excluding her newcomers' race) coming under these conditions. In races with gaps of over 10 weeks, she has finished outside the top three in all four starts. With just a three-week gap before this race, she should be well-suited to the schedule, and as she appears to be the only likely front-runner, she could gain an advantage by taking the lead comfortably. Though she may be a longer shot, she has the potential to spring a surprise result.
Wholeness made her debut in April 2023 in a maiden race, finishing second in a close head-to-head with Makoto Velikij, who has since moved up to Open Class. Given that it was her first race against experienced runners, this was a noteworthy performance. She followed that effort with a three-race winning streak, climbing from a maiden to two-win class. Two starts ago, she took on her first graded race in the G3 Mermaid Stakes, finishing third and demonstrating graded-stakes-level ability.
In her last race, the Listed Niigata Himba Stakes, Wholeness was again taking on stronger company. She raced mid-pack and surged down the outside in the stretch, winning decisively by one-and-a-half lengths. Her record now stands at six starts with four wins, a second, and a third. Importantly, three of her four victories have come at 2200 meters on turf, the same distance as the Queen Elizabeth II Cup, demonstrating her adaptability to this type of non-traditional distance. With her untapped potential, she has a solid chance against G1 contenders.
Saliera, in her previous start, the G2 All Comers, tracked the leaders but faded early in the stretch to finish a disappointing 12th. This was her first race since the G1 Tenno Sho (Spring), so she may have needed the run, making it hard to dismiss her performance entirely. In last year's Queen Elizabeth II Cup, she finished sixth but recorded the fastest closing fraction, closing the gap to just 0.3 seconds behind the winner. Her sister Salacia finished second in this race, suggesting the conditions, a 2200m turf race restricted to fillies and mares, suit her pedigree. Although her recent form has been lacking, the change in conditions could spark a turnaround.
Conch Shell won her way out of the three-win class in February and promptly claimed her first graded-stakes title by leading from start to finish in the G3 Nakayama Himba Stakes. In her last three races, she has taken the lead each time, though she has not maintained it to the finish. Her defeat in the G1 Victoria Mile was likely due to the top-class competition and the shorter distance. Of her five career wins, four came at 1800m on turf, indicating that the mile distance may have been too short for her. Additionally, her last two races had gaps of 10 weeks, which may have affected her performance.
Conch Shell's record shows that she performs best with a layoff of no more than four weeks, with all four of her wins (excluding her newcomers' race) coming under these conditions. In races with gaps of over 10 weeks, she has finished outside the top three in all four starts. With just a three-week gap before this race, she should be well-suited to the schedule, and as she appears to be the only likely front-runner, she could gain an advantage by taking the lead comfortably. Though she may be a longer shot, she has the potential to spring a surprise result.