Queen gets up in last stride

Australia’s best trotting mare Queen Elida (Love You) had to call on her harness racing champion status to take out the Chris Howe Trotters Free For All at Melton. 

Inter Dominion Grand finalist Mufasa Metro enjoyed a leisurely trip at the head of affairs while Queen Elida ($1.30 fav) lobbed along at the rear of the field before Chris Alford pulled the short priced favorite out with a lap to travel. 

Queen Elida dropped in momentarily behind the leader around the home turn but she was forced to dig deep in a 27.9 last 400 metres and managed to grab Mufasa Metro right on line with a margin of a short half head to spare. 

Alford conceded he wasn’t sure of the result as he crossed the line. 

“I didn’t know right on the line but she obviously did – she just knows where the line is and has that great will to win,” Alford said.

“The best thing is that they could run the first half five seconds quicker and she’d still get home just as good,” he said.

SHE JUST KNOWS HOW TO WIN!
Brent Lilley and Chris Alford's megastar mare Queen Elida lands her fifth-straight victory, getting there right on the line to defeat Mufasa Metro in the TAB Chris Howe Trotters Free For All! pic.twitter.com/iRX2TZxKwz

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) September 23, 2023

Alford believes Queen Elida could emulate the deeds of Just Believe should she receive an invitation to next year’s Elitloppet  in Sweden. 

“It’s a long way off and there are a lot of boxes to be ticked off but if she travelled well I’m sure she would be competitive,” he said  

For complete race results, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink