The Queen Elizabeth Stakes is shaping as a battle of tactics and the mind games have begun.Mare Miss Marielle appeared to be the one source of speed in the field of nine but her trainer Joe Pride said she would not be taking up the running."She just doesn't race well like that, she really needs cover," Pride said.However, he didn't rule out going to the front with out-of-form stablemate Vision And Power."Maybe Vision And Power might lead, I don't know," Pride said."I wouldn't rule that out. It's
The Queen Elizabeth Stakes is shaping as a battle of tactics and the mind games have begun.
Mare Miss Marielle appeared to be the one source of speed in the field of nine but her trainer Joe Pride said she would not be taking up the running.
"She just doesn't race well like that, she really needs cover," Pride said.
However, he didn't rule out going to the front with out-of-form stablemate Vision And Power.
"Maybe Vision And Power might lead, I don't know," Pride said.
"I wouldn't rule that out. It's going to be a real race of tactics this, and I don't think anybody is going to be giving away their hand.
"There might be three or four who have got it in their minds that there's no pace and all of a sudden you might have three or four leaders.
"As I say, it will be a race of tactics and a good ride will win the race."
Pride's pair are the outsiders of the field after both finished among the tailenders in last Saturday's Doncaster Mile.
The Warwick Farm trainer is the first to admit both will need to produce something special to turn their form around.
"I was very disappointed last week, I thought both would run better," Pride said.
"In Miss Marielle's defence though she probably got a bit excited. I didn't expect her to be up near the lead in that field.
"She folded up in the straight but I wasn't too surprised to see her doing that after the run she got."
The winner of the Craven Plate in October over the Queen Elizabeth course and distance, Miss Marielle will be retired to stud this spring.
Her performance on Saturday will determine whether the Group One is her racetrack farewell or whether she presses on to Brisbane for a winter campaign.
Vision And Power was one of the stars of the autumn 12 months ago winning the Doncaster and George Ryder Stakes before finishing an unlucky fifth to Pompeii Ruler in the Queen Elizabeth.
He has not been racing in such heart this time around and a relatively dry autumn hasn't helped the wet track specialist.
"I'm not sure what to make of him at the moment. I'm happy with him but he's going to the races and not performing," Pride said.
"At least my two are coming off the softest (Doncaster) runs so that's something."
Doncaster Mile winner Rangirangdoo was the early Queen Elizabeth favourite but was scratched on Friday.
Imported galloper Doctor Fremantle now heads TAB Sportsbet's market at $3.80 ahead of three-year-old Monaco Consul at $4 and Doncaster runner-up Road To Rock at $4.20.
Vision And Power is a $23 chance with Miss Marielle at $26.