Queen’s Gamble is set to debut among Sydney’s top fillies in the Tea Rose Stakes at Randwick, but trainer Matthew Smith has a strong reason to believe in her capabilities.
Smith previously trained Hurtle Myrtle, who competed in all four races of the 2009 Princess Series, securing a place in three, including a third-place finish behind More Joyous in the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m).
The following autumn, Hurtle Myrtle narrowly missed a major win, finishing just behind the exceptional More Joyous in the Surround Stakes (1400m), which was held at Warwick Farm that year.
“She was good as a three-year-old. One day at Warwick Farm, Hurtle Myrtle ran against More Joyous. More Joyous was about $1.20 and Hurtle Myrtle headed her with about fifty (metres) to go before More Joyous kicked back and won the race and I thought, oh my God,” Smith recalled.
“This filly is similar. A scopey type of filly who is unassuming.
“I think there are similarities. Queen’s Gamble has had a few runs, but she seems to be handling her racing well.”
After returning with two second-place finishes in midweek races at Canterbury, Queen’s Gamble achieved a dominant maiden victory at Warwick Farm on August 19. She followed this with an even more impressive win by over three lengths at the same track in her most recent start.
Smith has been impressed by her consistent improvement with each outing, acknowledging that her rapid development has been a pleasant surprise for the stable.
“She’s only a lightly-framed filly, so we were never really looking for anything big at home,” Smith said.
“For that reason, she has probably got under our guard a little bit because we hadn’t been asking her for much.
“Her first two runs were good and the way she pulled up after each run she didn’t really need a lot of work, so I just kept ticking her over and she has gone from strength to strength.”
Tommy Berry, who has guided Queen’s Gamble in three of her five starts, will be aboard for the Tea Rose Stakes (1400m).
Smith anticipates a competitive performance, but feels the filly’s best chance of winning will come when she steps up to a mile for the Flight Stakes next month.
“She will definitely be suited in the Flight,” he said.
“If we get a strong-run gallop, the 14 (1400m) will suit her, but the Flight will be better.”
Queen’s Gamble was priced at $8 on Thursday, with Chilly Girl, the winner of the Rosebud, holding steady as the $3.30 favourite.
Consider checking out the latest Australian betting sites for the best odds on the Tea Rose Stakes.
