Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Slay Queen emerged as a leading contender for upcoming rich classic events when she charged home to snatch victory in the $21,000 Nathan, Nat and Shaun For Breakfast Pace over 1730m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The filly, prepared by champion trainers Greg and Skye Bond and driven by Stuart McDonald, impressed as a $16 chance when she raced in sixth position and was fifth with 220m to travel before sprinting strongly, out three wide, to get up and beat the pacemaker and $2.25 favourite Strong The Striker, a highly-rated gelding.
“She is big and strong and sure to be prominent in the feature events,” said McDonald. “It wasn’t a fluke when she won at her previous start (at Pinjarra), and I knew she would run on good tonight.”
Slay Queen will be aimed at the $100,000 Diamond Classic on August 8, the $215,000 Westbred Classic (September 5) and the $150,000 Golden Slipper (September 26).
She is by renowned sire American Ideal and was bred and is owned by the Bonds, who raced her dam Starlight Destiny, who earned $78,658 from ten wins and 19 placings from 46 starts. Starlight Destiny finished third behind Dracarys in the Group 3 Gold Bracelet in July 2018.
Slay Queen, who defeated her promising stablemate Cocobolo at Pinjarra two starts ago, has earned $17,795 from her two wins and a fourth placing from three starts.
An impressive performance in Friday night’s event came from the Michael Young-trained gelding Cease To React, a $14 chance from the outside barrier on the front line. Cease To React raced wide early and then in the breeze before fighting on with great determination to finish third in a tight three-way photo finish.