D-Day has arrived for Queen Kelly

Trainer Jack Trainor says star harness racing mare Braeview Kelly (Bettor’s Delight) will decide herself whether she defends her Queen Elizabeth II Mile title.

The curtain is coming down on her fantastic career and Trainor won’t even nominate the former Kiwi mare for Saturday week’s feature unless she runs extra well in this week’s $50,000 Group 3 Robin Dundee (1609m) at Menangle.

“She doesn’t deserve to be just making up the numbers,” he said.

“She’s been a fantastic mare, and this week will tell us whether she should go around in the big one or not.”

“I’m pretty sure the owner is calling an end to her racing career in the next couple of weeks, so I don’t want her going out on a low.”

“She’ll have to convince me this week she is going to well to run in what will be a super strong race the week after.”

And that would require significant improvement on a rare disappointment when fifth to new stablemate Aardies Express last week.

“There’s very few times she’s disappointed us, but she did last week and that’s not her. I had no excuses before the race, either,” he said.

“The pleasing thing is we pulled blood after it and identified a few things we could address straight away.”

“I’m confident you’ll see her bounce back this week, but she’ll need to because it is a strong enough race itself.”

Braeview Kelly has drawn well in gate one, but just where she ends up is unclear to Trainor.

“She can hold her own, but there looks to be plenty of speed in it,” he said.

“Still, you’d rather be inside than out wide. I just hope she gets the right sort of trip and shows us some of the Braeview Kelly.”

Braeview Kelly has won 18 races and banked $450,530. She paced a career-best 1min49.5sec mile winning last year’s Queen Elizabeth.

Trainor is going for four successive Queen Elizabeth (formerly LadyshIp Mile) wins, having trained and/or driven Stylish Memphis to win twice before Braeview Kelly last year.

He will partner with stunning new stable addition Aardies Express next week.

The Kiwi-owned five-year-old was breathtaking, winning at her first Aussie for trainer in last week’s Sibelia Stakes.

“She went a super time and did it with ease,” Trainor said.

“She’s got no bottom and plenty of high speed as well.”

Trainor can’t wait to clash with Australia’s champion mare, Ladies In Red, next week.

“I’m all about respect for her. She’s done it all and is a champion,” he said.

“But if anything can upset her party and beat her, it’s this mare (Aardies Express).”

“These are the races you really look forward to. I know it’s another step up for Aardies (Express), but she feels like she’s ready for it.”

For complete race entries, click here.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Australia