Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Nothing would delight accomplished WA trainer-driver Jocelyn Young more than to receive an invitation for brilliant mare Steno to contest the $200,000 Queen Elizabeth Mile at Menangle on May 10.
Five-year-old Steno gave yet another thrilling exhibition of her dazzling speed to score a stylish victory in the Group 3 Christmas Belles over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“We would like to take her to Sydney,” said Young. “You don’t get a horse like this very often, and I’m keen to go and see how she measures up against the best mares in the country.”
Steno was the $1.60 favourite when she began from the outside of the front line at barrier eight on Friday night. She began with her normal brilliance and burst straight to the front before coasting through the lead time in 37sec. and the opening 400m section in 30.7sec.
“I did my best to time her start a bit better,” said Young. “Being a bit wider helped her at the start, not having speed right alongside me.”
Steno was joined after a lap by the $6.50 second fancy Penny Black, which resulted in fast second and third quarters of 27.9sec. and 27.7sec.
“When Penny Black came around and put pressure on me, it caused Steno to overrace,” said Young.
The final quarter was run in 29sec. when Steno held Penny Black at bay and went on to win by just over a half-length from that mare, rating 1.55. Little Darling ($16) finished solidly to be third, coming from fifth, three back on the pegs, at the bell.
This was a most impressive performance from Steno, who was having her first start for four weeks. The win boosted her record to 47 starts for 22 wins, 13 placings and $512,493.
Her 12 wins and five placings from 26 WA starts followed her nine wins and six placings from 17 starts in New South Wales, two placings from two runs in Queensland and one win from two Victorian starts.
The immediate plans for Steno are for to have “a little Christmas holiday” before being set for the Group 3 Laurie Kennedy Pace over 1730m at Gloucester Park on February 7.
Steno, a daughter of boom sire Sweet Lou, was bred in NSW and is owned by Dianne Kelly, who has rejected several offers from enthusiastic Americans. Ms Kelly also bred and owns four-year-old Sweet Lou mare Peaceful, who was a $11 chance in Friday night’s race and finished a sound fourth after racing in the breeze for the first lap and then enjoying an ideal trail in the one-out, one-back position.
If Steno is invited to run in the Queen Elizabeth Mile she could contest lead-up $50,000 events over1609m for mares at Menangle, the Sibelia Stakes on April 26 and the Robin Dundee Stakes on May 3.