King Pedro backed for Queen Elizabeth Stakes
Strong support has followed King Pedro (NZ) (Eminent) into Saturday’s A$300,000 Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington, where he can make amends after missing the Melbourne Cup field.
The five-year-old gelding has finished fourth in both starts since an untimely illness disrupted his spring campaign, resuming in the Gr.2 Hill Stakes (1900m) on October 10 before a luckless Moonee Valley Cup (2500m) performance.
King Pedro was tightened for room in the home straight in the latter contest, which he needed to win to beat the Melbourne Cup ballot.
Connections paid the final declaration fee last Saturday, but he missed a place in the top 24, leaving him eligible for an A$300,000 bonus in the Group Three contest.
Trained by John O’Shea and Tom Charlton, King Pedro shortened from as much as $8 earlier in the week to $3.50 by Tuesday.
“Obviously, we’d love to see him here today, but it looks the logical race for him,” Charlton said of the Queen Elizabeth.
“We were surprised he got so close to getting there (Melbourne Cup) off that campaign but he’s a very naturally clean-winded horse that isn’t a big, gross doing horse, so that allowed him to get back so fast.”
Mark Zahra will ride King Pedro from barrier 11 with 55.5kg, while the Chris Waller-trained Pinhole (Frankel) will be partnered by James McDonald.
“He’s got a very likeable profile, and I’d thought he and Pinhole are the logical two in that race,” Charlton said.
“If we can be successful for the owners on such a week that would be great and it would set the horse up nicely for next year and get him off the limit for the Melbourne Cup.”
This year’s Listed Grafton Cup winner, King Pedro has had 18 starts for four wins, six seconds and one third.
