The country’s highest ever earning racehorse Winx is the standout first acceptor for next month’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2018 following the latest round of declarations for Sydney’s ‘The Championships’ races.

Champion mare Winx headlines the 2018 Queen Elizabeth Stakes First Acceptances. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

On Tuesday the Australian Turf Club (ATC) announced first acceptances for all the major events held at Royal Randwick across the opening two Saturdays in April including those for the lucrative Group 1 $4 million Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).

Twelve months ago the race was won by Chris Waller’s outstanding mare Winx and she is again in line for the title following the official Queen Elizabeth Stakes first acceptances.

Waller seems to be leaning towards an autumn grand final for Winx on April 14 with a title defence in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes before a likely trip to England for the coveted Royal Ascot carnival.

The six-year-old daughter of Street Cry made history with a record 16^th Group 1 success first-up on March 3, annihilating her rivals by a minimum seven lengths in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m).

Winx will next race in the Group 1 $1 million George Ryder Stakes (1500m) on Golden Slipper Day, March 24, before a final decision about the Queen Elizabeth Stakes is announced.

Unsurprisingly Winx heads the all-in Queen Elizabeth Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au already in the red at $1.20 to go back-to-back in the race for the first time since Grand Armee (2004-05).

Winx is one of 15 Queen Elizabeth Stakes first acceptors for Waler whose other standout hopefuls include his Japanese import Admire Winner, Tom Melbourne, Foxplay, Egg Tart and Endless Drama.

A host of Waller’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes hopefuls will face off this weekend at Rosehill Gardens in the Group 2 $200,000 Ajax Stakes (1500m) including his last start Apollo Stakes placegetter Comin’ Through.

Also well represented in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes first acceptances for 2018 is Victorian trainer Darren Weir who has the two next best in futures betting after Winx.

Of Weir’s five chances the money is on Humidor ($10), the Teofilo five-year-old a dual placegetter behind Winx in the Turnbull Stakes and Cox Plate from last spring.

Humidor resumed on February 24 in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) running a good fourth to Brave Smash and is likely to run second-up at Flemington on Saturday in the Group 2 $200,000 Blamey Stakes (1600m).

Weir’s other standout is Gailo Chop ($13), the French import running second to upset winner Harlem in last weekend’s Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m).

Also among the Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2018 first acceptances are the likes of dual Doncaster Mile runner-up Happy Clapper, the Godolphin galloper Hartnell who was runner-up to Winx in last year’s race and the spring’s VRC Derby winner Ace High.

The Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2018 final field is set to be announced on April 10 with updated odds to follow at Ladbrokes.com.au, home of the best Group 1 racing odds and offers this autumn.

2018 Queen Elizabeth Stakes First Acceptances

Royal Randwick – 14/04/2018