Tight contest expected for 2023 Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes Day at Royal Randwick

Champion Anamoe and English raider Dubai Honour cannot be separated in the betting for the “race of the decade” at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Anamoe and Dubai Honour share favouritism at $2.50 in what is shaping as a stellar showdown for Sydney’s richest autumn carnival race, the Group 1 $5 million Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).

With an encouraging weather forecast for Easter Saturday – Sydney will have sunny skies and a top temperature of 25C – Racing NSW and Australian Turf Club officials are expecting more than 20,000 race fans for Day Two of The Championships.

Anamoe’s trainer James Cummings maintains his champion is at the peak of form and fitness for his final Australian race start.

“The build-up to the race has been outstanding and the lead-up has been straightforward for our horse,’’ Cummings said.

“We look forward to potentially seeing him put up the ‘Grand Final’ performance that we’ve come to expect from him.”

Anamoe has already clinched Horse of the Year honours after an outstanding season where he has won seven of his eight starts, including six at Group 1 level.

There are also plans to take Anamoe to England to contest the Queen Anne Stakes at the famous Royal Ascot carnival in June before the horse is retired to Darley Stud in the Hunter Valley for the spring breeding season,

But standing between Anamoe and a winning farewell to Australian racing is the outstanding Dubai Honour, a runaway winner of the Ranvet Stakes at his Sydney debut last month.

English trainer William Haggas also said he cannot fault Dubai Honour’s preparation for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes but he maintains Anamoe is not t the only horse to beat in the race.

“This has been billed as a two-horse race but it won’t be,’’ Haggas said. “In saying that, we are happy with Dubai Honour going into the race.’’

The Randwick track was rated a heavy 9 late on Thursday with a storm forecast for Friday and the rain-affected Randwick track is expected to favour Dubai Honour.

There are four Group 1 races on the 10-race program at Royal Randwick which boasts total prizemoney of more than $12 million.

Stayers Gin Martini and Torrens were withdrawn on Thursday from the $2 million Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) on veterinary advice.