The 2015 Queen Elizabeth Stakes first acceptances have been released and Cox Plate winner Adelaide remains on track to contest the Group 1 event at Royal Randwick on April 11.

Adelaide could make his return to racing in the 2015 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick on April 11. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett

Adelaide stamped himself as one of the most talented horses in the world when he worked home strongly from the tail of the field to win the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 25, but he has not been seen at the races since.

The Galileo entire was originally set to return to racing in either the Group 3 Sky High Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 14 or the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 21, but there is now speculation that the Cox Plate winner will go into the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes first-up.

Adelaide has now joined the stable of Chris Waller and the leading Sydney trainer is likely to be well represented in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes after Beaten Up, Foreteller, Hawkspur, He’s Your Man, I’m Imposing, Junoob, Moriarty, Sacred Falls, Weary, Who Shot Thebarman, Royal Descent and Preferment were also included in the first acceptances.

Protectionist is another horse that won at the highest level of racing during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival and the Melbourne Cup winner will run in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes if he performs well in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington this weekend.

The Monsun entire was unable to play a part in the finish when he returned to racing in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on February 28 and he needs to show a bit more pace over 2000 metres in order to remain in Queen Elizabeth Stakes contention.

Intergaze (1997) is the only three-year-old that has won the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the past 30 years, but that could change in 2015 as a number of talented three-year-olds remain a chance of contesting the $4 million event.

Hallowed Crown stepped-up to 1600 metres for the first time to take out the Group 1 Royal Randwick Guineas (1600m) on Saturday and co-trainer James Cummings has kept him in the nominations for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

The three-year-old is set to have his next two race starts in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) and Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m), but he could back-up in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes if he performs well in the $3 million mile event a week earlier.

Another three-year-old that could follow a similar path is talented filly First Seal, who returned to winning form with a classy performance in the Group 2 Surround Stakes (1400m) at Warwick Farm on February 28.

First Seal will make her debut against older horses in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday and if she wins will run in the Doncaster Mile before potentially backing up in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Other three-year-olds that remain a chance of contesting the Queen Elizabeth Stakes include Hampton Court, Mongolian Khan, Moonovermanhattan, Shooting To Win, Sweynesse and Wandjina.

Japan will be represented in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes for the first time and both To The World and Tosen Stardom have already arrived in Australia ahead of the Group 1 event at Royal Randwick on April 11.

To The World is considered the most talented of the four Japanese horses that have come to Australia for the 2015 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival and he is taking a strong form line into the race after he finished second behind champion Japanese mare Gentildonna in the Group 1 The Arima Kinen (2500m) at Nakayama at the end of last year.

Tosen Stardom does not have the same sort of form as To The World, but he took out the Group 3 The Challenge Cup (1800m) at Hanshin in December of last year in his final race start before making the trip to Australia.

Contributer has been the form horse of the 2015 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival to date and he remains on track to contest the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, while he could be joined in the race by stablemates Harntell and It’s Somewhat.

Hartnell made his Australian-racing debut with a fast-finishing second behind Contributer in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) and It’s Somewhat sprinted to victory in the Group 3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m).

The likes of Cosmic Endeavour, Criterion, Diamond Drille, Dissident, Dominant, Fiveandahalfstar, Happy Trails, Lucia Valentina, Pornichet, Red Cadeaux, Rising Romance, Tinto, The Cleaner and Suavito have also been included in the 2015 Queen Elizabeth Stakes first acceptances.