Race Images Palmerston North
Kenny Rae was left stunned by Prom Queen’s performance on her home track on Saturday.
The Ruakaka trainer had doubts before the Bear Morgan at Harcourts Bream Bay, but the diminutive filly monstered her three-year-old rivals with an outstanding display to win in a canter.
“I’m in a state of shock. I honestly thought she was vulnerable today,” said Rae, who trains Prom Queen with his wife Lisa and their daughter Krystal Williams.
“Last Saturday I gave her a good gallop and she blew too much for my liking. She’s got a lot of improvement in her so how good is she?”
Prom Queen was quickly into stride and sat outside the leader to the turn before rider Alysha Collett asked her to sprint and they exploded clear to win easing down by six lengths from Bombard.
“If she had drawn one she would have won by 10 lengths,” Rae said.
Prom Queen already has Listed successes from last season in the Welcome Stakes and the Champagne Stakes and she will be back in black type company for her next start.
“She’ll probably run in the Northland Breeders’ Stakes here,” Rae said. “After that she may go down to Ashburton for the John Grigg Stakes or to Ellerslie for the Soliloquy. I’ll space her races out, she’s only little.”
Prom Queen’s major three-year-old target is the Gr.1 gavelhouse.com New Zealand 1000 Guineas and Rae remains confident she can master 1600 metres at Riccarton on November 18.
“She relaxes when she’s in front and that was the first time she’s been outside the leader and she looked today like she could run a lot further,” he said. – NZ Racing Desk.