Trainer Gary Portelli has been waiting for Saturday since he first worked Queen Of Clubs at Warwick Farm.
Although she is already a city winner over 1400m, Queen Of Clubs has been earmarked as a stayer with a touch of sharpness for a while, and she gets to a trip where she can show it in the Flight Stakes.
“It has been about building up to this point where she is ready for the mile. I have always thought at a mile she is going to be able to show what she can do,” Portelli said.
“She has two Group 1 races coming where she will get to the trips where she will excel and I’m pretty confident about her chances.”
Queen Of Clubs has found the line hard from back in the field twice this preparation, when third in the Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) behind Savvy Hallie before being as good as the winner Apocalyptic late, when fourth in the Tea Rose Stakes at 1400m two weeks ago.
“Nash Rawiller sticks with her and I think she can be a bit closer over a mile, and I have no doubt that she is going to enjoy the step up in trip,” Portelli said.
“She will run in the Flight and then the Spring Champion Stakes and the Oaks is there for her in Melbourne, if she shows that she’s looking for more trip.”
Portelli will also have Encap in the Epsom, where he is hoping to also have Tibbie Plate runner-up Verona Rose, even though she near the bottom of the order of entry.
“Verona Rose is looking for the mile now and there aren’t that many options for her in Sydney, so why not an Epsom?” Portelli said. “She has a Group 3 placing after her run in Newcastle, and I would love to give her the chance in a big Randwick mile because I think she will love that pressure.”
“If she doesn’t get in the Epsom she will run in the benchmark 94 to keep our options for a race like the Golden Eagle or a mile race in Melbourne.”
Apocalyptic is an even money favourite for the Flight Stakes as she looks to make it a hattrick of wins in the Princess Series, with Queen Of Clubs getting supporters at $8.
