Trainer John Sadler is hoping that plenty of beach work has freshened up Vain Queen heading into the Group 1 $500,000 Darley Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Vain Queen will be ridden on the pace in The Goodwood at Morphettville. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.
Sadler is willing to forgive Vain Queen’s latest performance when she had to come from well back in the field to be beaten less than two lengths when seventh to Miracles Of Life in the Group 1 $400,000 William Hill Classic (Registered as Robert Sangster Stakes) (1200m) at Morphettville on May 2.
Vain Queen didn’t return to her Caulfield stable and was left in Adelaide where Sadler gave her time at the beach and is happy with the way she has responded since the Sangster Stakes.
“She’s done a fair bit of work at the beach and I’m really happy with her,” Sadler told The Herald Sun.
“I can assure you she is in really good shape. If she gets any luck she will be in it up to her ears.”
From a wide alley jockey Nick Hall had Vain Queen in front of only a couple of runners in the early and middle stages and Sadler said he will be telling new rider Katelyn Mallyon to have her closer to the pace.
“She had no chance when she went back in the field in the Sangster,” Sadler said.
“She ran home from fourteenth at the 400m to finish seventh, but being back there is just not her go.”
“She is far better running close to the pace and then unleashing her short but explosive sprint. That race was pretty much a non-event for her.”
Mallyon is replacing the injured Hall and the top young apprentice has had success on Vain Queen in the past with a win down the Flemington straight in an 1100m Open Handicap in June last year.
“She has ridden Vain Queen once for a slashing win down the Flemington straight so the owners were keen to put her on. She is in great form,” Sadler said.
As well as winning seven races from fifteen starts, Vain Queen also ran second to Lucky Hussler in the Group 1 $400,000 Brown Baldwin William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley two starts back.
Vain Queen is marked at the double figure odds of $12 for The Goodwood at Ladbrokes.com.au with local hero Hucklebuck heading the market order at $4.60 slightly ahead of the Perth sprinter Black Heart Bart at $4.80 and William Reid Stakes winner Lucky Hussler at $6.50.
Oakleigh Plate runner up Under The Louvre is next in the betting at $9 with Lord Of The Sky sharing the $12 line with Vain Queen.
The Goodwood market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.60 Hucklebuck, $4.80 Black Heart Bart, $6.50 Lucky Hussler, $9 Under The Louvre, $12 Vain Queen, Lord Of The Sky, $15 Gregers, $17 Yesterday’s Songs, $19 Thermal Current, Politeness, $21 Smokin’ Joey, $26 Flamberge, $41 Riziz, It Is Written, $67 Daytona Grey, $51 Tudor, $101 Light It Up.
