Champion mare Winx remains the key attraction heading towards the Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2017 in Sydney this April following first acceptances for ‘The Championships’ showdown.

Winx is the odds-on favourite of the 2017 Queen Elizabeth Stakes First Acceptances heading towards the April 8 classic at Randwick. Photo: Steve Hart.

On Tuesday Racing NSW took first declarations for the Group 1 races running over the first two Saturdays in April this Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival at Royal Randwick including the lucrative $4 million Group 1 Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), which drew sixty-one entries.

Held on Day 2 of ‘The Championships’, April 8, the Queen Elizabeth Stakes is set to attract more attention than ever before with the world’s best racehorse Winx targeting the weight-for-age feature.

The daughter of Street Cry has currently won her past 15 races on the trot, most recently overcoming a Heavy (9) track to go back-to-back in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m).

Her stellar autumn has followed the exact path as last season and she will continue that defending her title in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) next start at Rosehill on March 19.

From there Waller’s $9.8 million earner will round out her preparation with a Queen Elizabeth Stakes run and already she is dominating the all-in markets at Ladbrokes.com.au paying $1.35.

Waller has prepared previous Queen Elizabeth Stakes winners My Kingdom Of Fife (2011) and Reliable Man (2013).

Along with Winx as he chases a third success he has paid first acceptances for nine other runners including a host of stayers more likely to run in the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) on the same day.

Aside from those stayers – including early Sydney Cup betting favourite Antonio Giuseppe – key Waller-trained Queen Elizabeth Stakes rivals for Winx include gun import Arod, the filly Omei Sword and McCreery.

After Winx the other best in futures Queen Elizabeth Stakes odds post-first acceptances are Hartnell ($11) and Tosen Stardom ($15).

Hartnell has suffered six losses from as many runs against the mighty Winx to date, the John O’Shea-trained six-year-old last seen running a flat eighth in the Chipping Norton Stakes.

He gets some relief from the beatings next-up in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) on Golden Slipper Stakes Day before the Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2017.

O’Shea and the Godolphin stable have a total of four first acceptors for the race with Hartnell joined by imported stallions Floodlight and Spectroscope who are yet to race down under, as well as Hauraki.

Hauraki caught the eye first-up this time in with a smart third in the mud at Randwick in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m), but may target the Doncaster Mile on April 1.

Tosen Stardom is a Japanese import prepared by one of Victoria’s best, Darren Weir.

Weir has a total of five Queen Elizabeth Stakes first acceptors and Tosen Stardom is his best fancied after a brave second to stablemate Black Heart Bart in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m).

Black Heart Bart also features in the entries for the stable, along with the flying Stratum Star and Humidor who contests this weekend’s Australian Cup at Flemington, and Palentino.

Other notable hopes include the Lloyd Williams-raced The United States, Caulfield Cup winning mare Jameka and Victoria Derby champion Prized Icon.

Check out the full 2017 Queen Elizabeth Stakes First Acceptances below then head to Ladbrokes.com.au for the best all-in markets on Winx and her rivals.

2017 Queen Elizabeth Stakes First Acceptances

Royal Randwick – 08/04/2017