Queen set to rise to the top...again

Queen Of Stathfield. Photo by Club Menangle.

IT’S hard to believe consistent square-gaiter Queen Of Strathfield had never won a race when she crossed the Tasman and landed in the stables of KerryAnn and Rob Morris at Menangle just over a year ago.

Yet the daughter of Danish stallion Peak had run an incredible nine second placings, most of them from standing starts on both islands of New Zealand.

Now Queen Of Strathfield is one of the most consistent trotters going around and Morris has been able to extract nine wins from the plucky mare.

She’ll start close to favourite today at Menangle too, contesting Race 2, where she has been installed an equal favourite with another handy mare Right Moves in the 1609m race.

“She’s been a model of consistency, that’s for sure,” said Rob.

“She actually still owned by New Zealand clients and they really enjoy racing her and watching her from there.

“When she came over here, she was still a maiden.

“She’s done a really good job; she’s won a number of races and seems to be in really good form at the moment.”

Morris is also looking forward to handling another new stable acquisition Killara Fireball, who will have his first start for the stable today in Race 4, where he has been kept safe in the betting at $5.50, despite drawing wide on the track.

“He’s a nice horse; he gives me a really good feel at home,” said Morris.

“He’s had two trials and his first trial was a little bit below what I expected, while in the second trial he went 1:54.5 and was better.

“From the wide gate he’ll probably have to go back today.

“He’s three but he’s a little bit green between the ears and gets a little bit lost.

“He doesn’t quite know what it’s all about yet.

“He’ll definitely run a nice race but he just needs to learn his craft a little bit better now.”

 Like most harness rans in Sydney, Morris will be keenly watching the New Zealand Cup from Addington this afternoon.

“It’s a race I’d love to drive in one day,” he said.

“The start is the most vital part and unfortunately for the Aussies they don’t have the practise that the Kiwis get from the stand.

“The first 300m will be the telling factor and it will be a race of tactics early on, that’s for sure.”