The Queen’s last stride win

Australia’s best trotting mare Queen Elida (Love You) was forced to dig deep into her considerable reserves in taking out the Lyn McPherson Memorial Breed For Speed Gold Series Final (1720m) at Melton.

The Brent Lilley trained Queen Elida was caught wide for the 700 metres before reaching the spot outside the harness racing leader Revelstoke and the pair settled down for a two horse ‘war’ in the home straight.

Just when it appeared as if Revelstoke would cause a huge upset, Queen Elida refused to surrender the challenge and lunged at the leader on the line getting the verdict by a neck with Illawong Stardust two and half metres away third in a mile rate of 1:55.5.

Driver Chris Alford marveled at Queen Elida’s tenacity in the home straight.

“She’s obviously still not where she was six months ago but she just has that unbelievable will to win,” Alford said.

“She was never going to catch the leader until about the last three strides and she just stuck her head out,” he said.

"THE QUEEN GOT THERE!"
Chris Alford had to ask for everything she had and Queen Elida responded to claim a gutsy victory in the Lyn McPherson Memorial Breed For Speed Gold Series Final for trainer Brent Lilley. pic.twitter.com/znu7BquPMe

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) February 24, 2024

Alford concedes Queen Elida is not racing at her top.

“You can tell driving her that there is something niggling her somewhere but the good ones just know how to win and she just keeps doing it,” he said.

Queen Elida is already locked in to contest The Trot Slot at Cambridge in New Zealand on April 12.

“I’m not sure is she’ll have another race before going to New Zealand but Brent will keep her ticking over and look and see what that little niggle is and get her right back on her game,” he said.

For complete race results, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink