There are only a few slots to fill in next month’s $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), and Ruakaka filly Vegas Queen (NZ) (Proisir) will be seeking to secure one of them when she heads to Ellerslie on Saturday to contest the Listed Trevor & Coralie Eagle Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m).
The daughter of Proisir scored her maiden win at her home track as a juvenile in July and has hardly put a foot wrong as a three-year-old, running fourth in the Gr.3 Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) before posting two runner-up results at Ellerslie, including the Gr.3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m) on Karaka Millions night last month.
A number of NZB Kiwi slot holders have been circling the filly, but none have yet to bite, with Vegas Queen getting her final chance to impress this weekend in what will be a dress rehearsal for the richest three-year-old race in the southern hemisphere on Champions Day, March 8.
The Uncle Remus field comprises four confirmed NZB Kiwi runners in Checkmate (NZ) (Mongolian Khan), Dealt With (NZ) (Ace High), Penman (NZ) (Contributer) and Sethito (NZ) (Super Seth), and trainer Kenny Rae believes his filly can match it with her more fancied opponents this weekend.
“It is a big step up for her, but I think she is up to it,” he said. “She is the best horse in Ruakaka, if that means anything.
“I was rapt with her run (in the Almanzor Trophy). She missed the start a wee bit and Jasmine (Fawcett, jockey) used her up a bit to get up there, but she had a good draw. You can’t complain when you are getting $47,000 for second.”
Rae had planned on heading to the South Island with his filly to tackle some stakes targets, however, he opted to remain in the north following her Almanzor Trophy performance.
“She was going to go down for the Dunedin Guineas (Listed, 1600m), but she went well at Ellerslie, so we decided to keep her up here,” he said.
Vegas Queen, a relation of champion mare Winx, will jump from barrier seven on Saturday where she will once again be ridden by Fawcett.
“Seven is a good draw for her. She will tuck in right behind them somewhere,” Rae said.
While hopeful of gaining an NZB Kiwi berth, Rae said he isn’t fazed if his filly misses out, highlighting that he has another lucrative target in-mind for her on Champions Day in the form of the $100,000 Windsor Park Stud 3YO Trophy (1500m).
“Everybody is sitting playing the waiting game,” Rae said. “I would be quite happy to go to the Windsor Park, she is only a young horse and there is plenty of time.
“We may give her a small break (after Champions Day) and then look for something for her in the autumn or the spring even. She will be better as a four and five-year-old, I am sure of it.”
Vegas Queen is currently a $16 winning chance for the Uncle Remus with TAB bookmakers, with the Wexford Stables pair of Checkmate and Sethito heading the market at $3.80.
