Tim and Queenie out to defend their Mallee Bull title

A picture of Outback Queenie standing proudly next to the iconic Mallee Bull will long be enjoyed by the Mortlock family after last year’s harness racing victory in Birchip’s biggest harness race.

Michelle Phillips partnered the daughter of Fear The Dragon to a narrow front-running success in the $10,000 feature, with celebrations continuing long into the evening before connections snapped up a photo opportunity alongside the town’s much-loved tourist attraction.

“I said if one of these two horses (Outback Queenie and Double The Hunter) wins the cup, we’re going to pull up in the main street in the morning, get the horse out of the float and take a picture beside the Mallee bull, which we did,” trainer Tim Mortlock recalled.

“I’ve got a bit to live up to, but on her last couple of starts I don’t think I’ve got too much to worry about.”

Outback Queenie has barrier four for her bid at back-to-back Sharp’s Bakery Malee Bull Pacing Cup wins, and Mortlock is hoping for a significant turnaround in form after down-the-track finishes at Kilmore, Stawell and Boort through recent weeks.

“She was on fire at Tamworth and as soon as I got that flat tyre (in the Golden Guitar Final), it’s just all gone downhill from there. Hopefully we are on the turnaround,” Mortlock said.

“She was going good before I took her to Tamworth and it sort of paid off there, but since I’ve got home she hasn’t really done much. Nothing’s changed and she’s still working good – maybe we might just need the right run.”

Win, lose or draw, Mortlock and his crew are planning an enjoyable day at one of Victoria’s much-loved race meetings.

“It’s one of those few meetings where everyone else in harness racing, especially the country people, just want to go there to have a day out and stay the night,” he said.

“It’s hard to explain it to people – you’ve got to go and find out for yourself.”

A big field of 11 has been assembled for the Sharp’s Bakery Mallee Bull Pacing Cup, which is set as race eight on a bumper nine-race card.

Danny O’Brien-trained Sir Eros will start off the equal 30m back mark in the TMC Enviro Mallee Bull Trotters Cup as he looks to back up last weekend’s triumph at Boort. He has eight rivals including Stawell Trotters Cup champion Wish Upona Dream, who is also off 30m.

Click here to visit Birchip’s Facebook page, which has information about what’s planned on and off the track this Sunday.

by Tim O’Connor, for HRV