Eye Keep Smiling on Target for Queen Elizabeth II

Brilliant mare Eye Keep Smiling (Sweet Lou) is likely to run favourite for next weeks Group 1 $200,000 Queen Elizabeth II mile when she proved too classy for her rivals in the $50,000 Group 3 Therese Cordina Robin Dundee Stakes at Menangle Park on Saturday night.

A winner of her last four starts including the Riverina Mares Championship at Wagga two weeks ago, Eye Keep Smiling was installed a warm favourite despite the presence of some worthy opposition.

Eased back at the rear of the field early, driver Luke McCarthy allowed Eye Keep Smiling to follow up Queensland mare Thesunandthemoon.

Speedy mare My Moonlite Dream who hadn’t raced for three months, showed her customary early speed to take the lead. However Eye Keep Smiling had to keep working and was still three wide in the final back straight before she joined My Moonlite Dream.

However showing her class, Eye Keep Smiling urged on by McCarthy drew clear and she won by just under four metres from the fast finishing Rakero Rebel with Sweet Bella a further metre away third.

Both Rakero Rebel and Sweet Bella battled on well while My Moonlite Dream who finished fourth will be improved by the effort.

EYE KEEP SMILING MAY 2 REPLAY

Thanks to the fast pace set by My Moonlite Dream the mile rate was 1.49.8 with final quarters of 27.3 and 27 seconds and it further contributes to the effort of Eye Keep Smiling even after having had such a torrid run at stages.

The barrier draw will be all important and if the outstanding front running mare Steno gets the lead she will make a race of it with Eye Keep Smiling. Notwithstanding it will be a fascinating race.

The harness racing community at Club Menangle also paused to pay tribute to the late great Greg Sugars in line with the ceremony taking place at Melton.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink