Jockey Craig Newitt is confident the building form of veteran runner My Kingdom Of Fife will count for a lot in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), and is above all expecting a top 5 finish for the nine-year-old in this afternoon’s featured race.
Jockey Craig Newitt is confident of the chances of outsider My Kingdom Of Fife in today's featured Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Photo: Steve Hart
Having partnered the Kingmambo gelding to a mid-pack finish in last weekend’s Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m); his best result in three starts since returning from a two-and-a-half year injury break, Newitt told AAP trainer Chris Waller’s approach to this weekend’s race is sure to pay dividends for My Kingdom Of Fife.
“I’ll be disappointed if he doesn’t run in the top four or five” Newitt said.
“He is going well. He (Waller) has been soft on him because of his injuries and he is racing him into fitness.
“He’s had a couple of real hard runs on bog track now and I reckon he goes into the race spot-on, but out of form on paper.”
Amassing an impressive record of seven wins and ten places from 28 race starts to date, My Kingdom Of Fife began his racing career under the guidance of leading British trainer Sir Michael Stoute, unlucky not to claim a victory at the highest level of racing in 19 appearances.
Arriving in the care of Waller at the beginning of 2011, My Kingdom Of Fife contested an impressive run of three victories and one second over four race starts in a short autumn preparation; claiming the Group 3 Doncaster Prelude (1600m) before comfortably winning the 2011 edition of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes most notably.
Returning to racing in the spring of the same calendar, My Kingdom Of Fife appeared to be on track for another strong preparation; finishing second in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) before seriously injuring a tendon when winning the Group 3 Craven Plate (2000m), forcing the talented gelding from the track.
Unable to figure when last in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) first-up this preparation, My Kingdom Of Fife could not match the pace of his rivals in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) on March 29th when finishing a disappointing 14th, however did appear to be benefitting from race fitness when finishing mid-pack in the Doncaster Mile last weekend.
Currently given little hope in betting markets for success in the 2014 Queen Elizabeth Stakes, My Kingdom Of Fife is offered at a particularly generous quote of $81.
Having returned to the track in competitive form this season, four-time Group 1 champions It’s A Dundeel is currently clear $3.70 favourite and market mover for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, ahead of Silent Achiever ($4.60), Carlton House ($5) and Royal Descent ($8.50).
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