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By Mark Brassel

Racing NSW Stewards and Australian Turf Club today announced the barrier draws for six of the feature races to be run on Day 2 of The Star Championships at Royal Randwick this Saturday.

The following four races highlighted are the $4m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), $2m Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m), $1m The Star Australian Oaks (2400m) and the $1m Sydney's Queen of the Turf Stakes (1600m).

LONGINES QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES: Ruling $3.50 favourite on TAB, champion mare Verry Elleegant, drew gate seven but as a horse that can race handy or back in the field, jockey James McDonald will have ample time to sum up where to position the six-year-old. High class galloper Zaaki ($4) fared perfectly in barrier three as he is likely to go forward and sit on the pace. Outstanding three-year-old Anamoe ($4.50) comes out of barrier five and again, the gate will pose no problem in the small field as the colt is quite tractable. Duais ($5) was amazing with her effortless Tancred Stakes win by panels of fencing and has the outside gate, but that matters little as she'll be snagged back to near last as per her usual racing pattern.

SCHWEPPES SYDNEY CUP: In a wide-open affair, the Joe Pride-trained Stockman is a $4.50 popular elect on TAB. The in-form gelding likes to sit off the speed so gate 13 may present jockey Alysha Collett with a few problems slotting in. Second favourite Crystal Pegasus ($7) has drawn poorly in barrier 18, although he's a stayer that can get race on the speed or get back to midfield. The grey Luncies ($8) is another to draw awkwardly (14) but will drift back in the field. The Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott-trained Knights Order ($13) was narrowly beaten in the Chairman's Quality at Royal Randwick on Saturday and from his inside draw, he looks the likely leader and should take running down being rock-hard fit.

THE STAR AUSTRALIAN OAKS: TAB's market is unable to separate $4 equal favourites Hinged and Queensland visitor Gypsy Goddess, with both fillies drawing awkwardly in barriers 10 and 11 respectively. Hinged should go forward from that gate whereas Gypsy Goddess gets back in the field and is going to require luck in running. The next pair in betting did not fare much better with Pink Ivory ($6) receiving gate 9, and Saturday's Adrian Knox Stakes winner Honeycreeper ($6) drawing barrier 15. Victorian filly El Patroness ($15) likes to lead or be on the pace, so she did well in the draw with gate number 2.

SYDNEY'S QUEEN OF THE TURF STAKES: It's all about the approaching rain with TAB favourite Colette ($4.50). The mare has raced on soft or heavy tracks on 10 occasions for 6 wins and two 2nds so she's a swimmer and it doesn't matter where she draws (9). Speaking of swimmers, Icebath ($6) is another that fancies the wet having finished in the placings in 9 of her 11 wet track appearances. From gate 15 she'll get back and work home late. Unbeaten Victorian Yonce ($7) has drawn the coveted rails barrier so she should enjoy a sweet run in transit. Hinged's stablemate Fangirl ($9.50) usually gets back but may race much closer with her barrier 16 posing problems for her connections in the big field.