Queenborough off to flyer
TASMANIAN thoroughbred racing unearthed another potential star in Launceston on Wednesday night when wellbred filly Queenborough Flyer scored an emphatic win on debut in a three-year-old maiden over 1100m.
“I have to thank the owners for allowing me to take my time with this filly because she’s probably had five preps leading up to here,” jockey Siggy Carr said. “But as we saw tonight, I think their patience is going to be rewarded.
“This was her first time to the races, but she raced more like a horse that had had 100 starts. To be able to drop back and then peel out and take gaps at only her first start suggests we could have something a bit special.”
Queenborough Flyer (Alpine Eagle-Silandro) was only fairly away, so Carr eased her out to the rear and kept her three wide with cover.
Approaching the home straight, the filly was still near last and for a fleeting moment it appeared as if she might not gain a clear run. But when a gap appeared, Queenborough Flyer shouldered her way clear and quickly put the result beyond doubt.
Queenborough Flyer ($2.40 into $1.70 favourite) went on to defeat the John Blacker-trained Dawn Eagle by a half-length. Her stablemate Power Magnum was almost a length astern. Carr said she would target threeyear-old races for the filly, and a possible option was the $100,000 3YO Cup in early December.
PREMIER trainer Scott Brunton will aim his gallant grey horse Sir Simon at the major weight-for-age races this season.
Sir Simon was set a task last season that included tackling
the Group 3 Ladbrokes Hobart Cup (2400m), but the experiment failed, so this time around Brunton has lowered the bar and will stick to races up to 1600m.
In Launceston on Wednesday night, Sir Simon gave his rivals a galloping lesson in a benchmark 76 handicap over 1400m in which he led
throughout to score by two lengths.
It was his first start since March and Brunton said it could be the eight-year-old’s best campaign.
“I am really looking forward to seeing what this gallant old grey horse can do this season because he is in great shape physically and mentally,”
Brunton said. “We tried him in the cups last season, but it didn’t work.
“The horse will be a serious contender in the weight-forage races so when the Conquering (1400m) comes around he will be right in it with a big winning chance.”
Jockey David Pires was rapt with the win.
“When you put all the hard work into a horse as I do with him, and to come to the races and do what he did tonight, makes it all worthwhile,” Pires said.
“I’m rapt for the owner Royston Carr, who is such a great person, and I am excited about what this horse might achieve this time in.”