Latest run will have done ‘world of good’ for Queen Elida

Champion reinsman Chris Alford rarely needs any favors to showcase his considerable skills in the harness racing sulky.

Alford though acknowledges he will be in the box seat behind star mare Queen Elida (Love You) when the mobile releases the field in the $600,000 TAB Trot slot race at Cambridge on Friday night.

As the only mare in the field, Queen Elida will start from the coveted inside alley under the preferential barrier draw conditions of the race.

The Brent Lilley-trained mare put the finishing touches on her campaign with a stout second behind top New Zealand trotter Oscar Bonavena in the Smith and McKenzie Flying Mile at Cambridge on Thursday night.

Alford was satisfied with the six-year old’s effort after leading, with Oscar Bonavena enjoying a cold sit behind her in a mile rate of 1:55.5.

“Oscar Bonavena probably possesses the fastest sprint of the trotters and he was just a bit too quick up the straight,” Alford said.

Alford conceded the mid-race tempo was quicker than he would have preferred.

“She was a bit fresh, got a bit too keen in the run and I didn’t really want to go as fast as we did in going 1:55, which is pretty quick around Cambridge,” he said.

Alford said the daughter of Love You will derive significant benefit from the outing.

“She blew up a bit after the race, so it will have done her the world of good,” he said.

Alford indicated he will evaluate his options shortly after the start of the 2200m event.

“She has gate speed, so we should be in a position to hold the front or take a sit on the right horse, but then again they’re all good horses in the race,” he said.

A win in Australasia’s first trotting slot race would prove popular as the New Zealand-bred Queen Elida is raced by Canterbury horseman Tony Barron along with her breeder Gordon McKenzie and her slot holder is the TAB New Zealand.

by John Dunne, for Harness Racing Victoria