Threatening to steal the glory at Randwick on Saturday this year’s Queen Of The Turf Stakes 2026 field is stacked, and it is Treasurethe Moment narrowly sitting top of the latest markets to win the mile feature.

Officially it is the Group 1 $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) and the bid of undefeated mare Autumn Glory heading the weekend’s Sydney racing action on Day 2 of The Championships.

One race prior however an elite field of female gallopers faces off in one of the best Group 1 $1 million Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) line-ups punters have seen in many years.

Currently sitting top of the Queen Of The Turf Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au is Matt Laurie‘s four-time Group 1 winning Alabama Express mare Treasurethe Moment at $3.80 and firming to keep the top-level victories coming.

The bonnie four-year-old comes off a confidence boosting two length romp home in the Group 2 Sunline Stakes (1600m) at Caulfield from March 21 where she simply outclassed a weaker field and is now well supported for her return to Group 1 grade.

Versatile, she is proven both in Melbourne and Sydney having completed the Vinery Stud Stakes / ATC Oaks double last autumn.

Returning to the Randwick track a year on from her Oaks success, her mile strike rate is imposing (5:3-1-0) and she’s drawn to get the run of the race from gate three.

A Cox Plate third last spring highlights her genuine top-tier ability, and with her regular rider Damian Lane back in the saddle she’s expected to be right in the thick of things again.

Occupying the second line of betting as the standout threat at $3.90 is Lady Shenandoah who is one of four in the mix for four-time winning trainer Chris Waller.

Waller has prepared the past three straight Queen Of The Turf Stakes champions including Fangirl last year and returns with a strong contingent again in 2026.

Another well-drawn mare jumping from gate two with the best in the biz James McDonald to ride, Lady Shenandoah is a four-year-old daughter of Snitzel who has three Group 1s on her CV including the 2024 Flight Stakes at this track and trip.

It has been a while between drinks with her latest turf triumph being last year’s Coolmore Classic over 12 months ago, but she’s solid this prep posting a trio of top four runs.

She was last seen charging home into a fourth placing behind the stable’s undefeated queen Autumn Glow in the Group 1 George Ryder at Rosehill, loves it here at Randwick (8:3-2-2) and looks perfectly timed to strike fourth-up arriving fresh and building momentum.

Set to relish a predicted strong tempo, the rise in trip only enhances her claims and for many punters he profiles as the mare to beat.

Following very closely in a tight top half of the markets at $4.20 is the front-running star and the one injecting the speed into the race, Pride Of Jenni.

Ciaron Maher’s rejuvenated pacemaker just keeps turning up, and her form since coming out of retirement has been nothing short of remarkable.

She hasn’t won since her 4.5 length Empire Rose demolition last spring, but her two Flemington runs this prep — a brave first-up half-length defeat in the All-Star Mile and a heartbreaking nose second in the Australian Cup — were elite, setting the race up on both occasions and refusing to yield.

She’s as deserving as any mare to bounce back, and while her best has traditionally come in Melbourne, she’s proven at Randwick and the drop back to the mile is perfect.

With Declan Bates sticking from the inside draw and a superb 1600m record behind her, this tenacious mare will take plenty of running down — and if she’s beaten, it won’t be by much.

The Matthew Smith-trained Idle Flyer ($6) completes the single-figure fancies and will jump from barrier four with the in-form Zac Lloyd aboard.

A four-year-old daughter of Dundeel, Idle Flyer is a mare on the rise and looks ready for this level after showcasing her sharp turn of foot with a strong win as favourite in the G2 Emancipation Stakes over 1500m at Rosehill.

She gives the impression there’s still improvement to come, and with that upside she’s very much in the mix for a top-three finish.

The 2026 Queen Of The Turf Stakes is set to run as Randwick Race 8 at 3:55pm (AEST) on Saturday’s 10-race program.

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