Protector bids to be Queen at Royal Randwick

The Robert Smerdon-trained five-year-old won the Gr.3 Schweppervescence Trophy at Flemington last month, and Geoffrey Faber, Qatar Bloodstock's representative in Australia, says: "Noble Protector has never been in better shape. Her form stands up and she is entitled to be here."

Formerly trained in Britain by Stuart Kittow, the five-year-old was bought privately by David Redvers last summer and has proved a revelation since transferring to Smerdon's yard. She is one of 15 fillies and mares lining up in tomorrow's race, which takes place over 1,600 metres.