A capacity line-up of fillies and mares faces off in the 2023 Queen Of The Turf Stakes final field this weekend in Sydney with markets on the Randwick showdown led by the Waterhouse/Bott import Alcohol Free.

Atishu is one of the top fancied mares in the 2023 Queen Of The Turf Stakes field this weekend. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Day 2 of The Championships features another four elite level autumn events including the Group 1 $1 million Sydney Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) run and won over a mile.

This year English import Alcohol Free is the mare to beat first-up down under for her Sydney-based trainers Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott.

The now five-year-old daughter of No Nay Never won the Group July Cup (1207m) at Newmarket in the UK last year before her last start third at The Goodwood in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes (1609m) when carrying 60.5kg.

She looked the genuine deal in a winning Randwick trial on March 21 ahead of her debut down under where James McDonald has the ride from a favourable barrier two draw.

Co-trainer Waterhouse holds the Queen Of The Turf Stakes record having prepared eight previous winners including her latest, Con Te Partiro (2020), in partnership with Bott.

Alcohol Free is a firm favourite heading the Queen Of The Turf Stakes odds at $3.50 through Ladbrokes.com.au to extend Waterhouse’s stranglehold on the popular weight-for-age race.

The danger occupying the second line of Queen Of The Turf Stakes betting at $5.50 drawn out wider in gate 13 is Levante for Kiwi trainers Ken & Bev Kelso.

The six-year-old daughter of Proisir is a four-time Group 1 winner across the Tasman.

She was last seen running a brave fifth when under length off the champ Anamoe in Rosehill’s Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m), which looks a lovely form line to follow into this easier assignment back against her own kind.

Sirileo Miss in gate three is the $7 third elect and is the fit mare in the mix chasing her third win on the trot.

The Symon Wilde-trained Pride Of Dubai five-year-old has a strong 1600m record (7:4-0-1), but races at the Randwick track for the first time this weekend.

She comes off back-to-back Melbourne wins in March having dominated the Group 3 Matron Stakes (1600m) by nearly four lengths before her even more emphatic five-and-a-half-length romp home at The Valley a fortnight back in the Group 2 Sunline Stakes (1600m).

A further two female gallopers are also currently under $10 for the win with the rails-drawn Atishu ($9) for Waller and the always-honest Hope In Your Heart ($9) both being kept safe in betting.

Kerry Parker’s Dundeel four-year-old Hope In Your Heart has been huge for her Kembla Grange trainer both last prep and again this time in.

She was only a length back fourth to subsequent TJ Smith Stakes winner I Wish I Win in the $10 million The Golden Eagle (1500m) last October, before her second in the $1 million The Gong (1600m).

This prep she won the Group 2 Guy Walter Stakes (1400m) here fresh before a fourth to Espiona in Rosehill’s Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) and fourth again only last weekend to dual champ Mr Brightside in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m).

Hope In Your Heart was very brave on the Heavy going on Day 1 of The Championships from the far outside alley at 30/1 to finish only one-and-a-half lengths off the winner with 50.5kg.

She faces an easier field of rivals here, but will need to show improvement rising to 57kg with Tim Clark aboard from gate four.

Other runners of note include the widely-drawn Group 1 winning Fangirl ($11) also running for Chris Waller out in gate 15 and the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Group 1 Coolmore Classic runner-up Pride Of Jenni ($12).

Click here for the latest Queen Of The Turf Stakes 2023 betting odds courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

2023 Queen Of The Turf Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw

Table Credit: Racing Australia.