Nothing stops Prom Queen

Prom Queen, aka the queen of speed, has given the best indication yet that she will be wearing a Group I tiara on November

18.

Her seemingly effortless victory in Saturday’s Group III Barneswood Farm Stakes

(1400m) on Saturday at Ashburton was her eighth victory from just nine trips to the races and her sixth on the trot.

Importantly, the Super Easy filly was having her first start on a good track and first trip over more than 1200 metres. If either factor was meant to be an acid test, you wouldn’t have known it.

In a field that was touted as being strong with plenty of Guineas aspirants, the queen of speed seemingly had several gears left in reserve as she cruised to a two and a quarter length victory. Samantha Collett, who picked up the ride with her cousin and Prom Queen’s regular hoop Alysha Collett suspended, may as well have left her whip in the jockeys’ room.

Kenny Rae, who trains Prom Queen with his wife Lisa and their daughter Krystal Williams, has always been confident his stable star would get the mile. Following the ease with which she won over 1400, it looks as though he will get the last laugh over those who said Prom Queen was just a sprinter.

‘‘Nothing stops her,’’ Rae said. Prom Queen has been moved into $2.50 for the 1000 Guineas. She was $6 before Saturday’s race.

Rae confirmed she will not race again until the $300,000 Group I 1000 Guineas (1600m) on November 18.

Sensei had to settle for second but there were plenty of celebrations for his trainers, Michael and Matt Pitman, as Mira, Why Me, Flying Ibis and Montoya Star gave the father and son training partnership a quartet of victories.

The first win of the day for team Pitman – Mira in race one – was the first New Zealand victory for apprentice jockey BB Hong.

Canterbury-based jockey Ryan Bishop was dislodged from his mount Limousine shortly after the start of race two. He was taken to Ashburton Hospital and found to have suffered a fracture to his right leg. He looks set for a lengthy period on the sidelines.

Promising stayer Patrick Erin was an impressive winner of the Ashburton Cup (1600m). Despite the distance being short of his best, the Brian and Shane Anderton-trained son of Gallant Guru scored his eighth win from just 17 starts.