The Tony McEvoy trained Le Roi scored an overdue Spring Carnival win in the Group 3 $300,000 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington today.
Le Roi scores an overdue win in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Flemington. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.
Le Roi has been building up for a win with placings at his last two starts after running third in the Listed $200,000 TAB Cranbourne Cup (2025m) at Cranbourne and then second to Prince Penzance in the Group 2 $250,000 Racing.com Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) at Moonee Valley.
“His five runs this prep have been fantastic. He has just kept building and building,” McEvoy said.
“I was confident today but I was worried how firm the ground was getting but he is a very good galloper.”
“He is a pretty good looking horse and makes my job a bit easier.”
Winning jockey Damien Oliver chalked up his fifth win over the four day Melbourne Cup Carnival on Le Roi and his first win in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Oliver was at his best on Le Roi ($6.50) and had the six year old stallion travelling smoothly in fourth spot behind stablemate Big Memory ($5.50) who was setting an even tempo for Tommy Berry.
Coming to the home turn Craig Williams on the favourite Noble Protector ($3.50) moved up outside of Big Memory then Le Roi and Prince Of Penzance ($4.60) ed in to make it a fight to the line.
Noble Protector was the first to give ground with Prince Of Penzance continuing his run to finish half a length second with Big Memory fighting back on the fence for third with Noble Protector in fourth spot.
Oliver started the week in great style by winning a Group 1 double at Flemington on Derby Day last Saturday with wins on Happy Trails in the $1m Longines Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) and on Preferment in the $1.5m AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m).
Queen Elizabeth Stakes Result
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | LE ROI (GER) | Tony McEvoy | Damien Oliver | – | 9 | 56.5kg | $6.50 |
| 2 | 1 | PRINCE OF PENZANCE (NZ) | Darren Weir | Hugh Bowman | 0.4L | 3 | 58kg | $4.60 |
| 3 | 2 | BIG MEMORY (FR) | Tony McEvoy | Tommy Berry | 1.15L | 7 | 57.5kg | $5.50 |
| 4 | 8 | NOBLE PROTECTOR (GB) | Robert Smerdon | Craig Williams | 2.65L | 5 | 54.5kg | $3.50F |
| 5 | 5 | BRING SOMETHING | Ken Keys | Luke Nolen | 3.4L | 8 | 55.5kg | $14 |
| 6 | 9 | COMMANDING TIME | Brendan McCarthy | Daniel Stackhouse | 3.5L | 4 | 54.5kg | $41 |
| 7 | 7 | LET’S MAKE ADEAL | Nigel Blackiston | Dwayne Dunn | 3.7L | 2 | 54.5kg | $10 |
| 8 | 6 | ZANBAGH | Patrick Payne | Glen Boss | 3.8L | 6 | 54.5kg | $31 |
| 9 | 10 | ALI VITAL (NZ) | Robbie Laing | Vlad Duric | 5.3L | 1 | 54.5kg | $71 |
