Trotting “Queen” and “The Puppet” too good in Collins Sprint

Freakish mare Queen Elida (Love You) continued her dominance of the Australian square gaiting scene with a stunning harness racing victory in the Group One Aldebaran Park Bill Collins Trotters Sprint at Melton (Oct 14).

Queen Elida has had her colors lowered only once in her past 11 starts and trainer Brent Lilley’s mare has surely stamped herself as a champion.

But victory in the Bill Collins was never going to be a gimme for Queen Elida, with a poor draw and a short trip against some quality opposition – but the superb work by one of the best in the driving business, Chris “The Puppet” Alford, put the result beyond doubt.

Alford surprised everyone by launching early with Queen Elida, taking the lead from Mufasa Metro (John Justice) and dictating proceedings from the front.

“I just took a risk because she’s sat outside John’s horse the past few times and has beaten him so I took a chance that he might want to let me across if I went up with a bit of sting,” Alford said.

“Once she got there, she was really good – she often gets lost when she gets so far out in front,” he said.

“She has a magic gait, drives on a piece of cotton.  She is a push start – she will go, she will back off, she will go, she is just a freak.”

Queen Elida scored by 4.6 metres over Arcee Phoenix (Chris Svanosio), with Ollivici four metres back in third in a time of 1:54.4 (28.2, 30.7, 27.7, 28.6).

A seventh Group 1 for brilliant trotting mare Queen Elida!
Reinsman @ChrisAlford5000 perfect in guiding the @BrentLilley3 trained runner to the head of affairs and she did the rest in the Aldebaran Park Bill Collins Trotters Sprint.
CONGRATS! pic.twitter.com/m1KOa6mzGr

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) October 14, 2023

It was the 136the Group One victory of Alford’s career.

Trainer Brent Lilley said he was thrilled Alford took the initiative and “came knocking” to find the front early in the race.

He said the mare was racing in career-best form.

“She has been trouble-free this preparation, whereas in the past there have been a few little things go wrong along the way,” he said.

There are potentially some big targets ahead for Queen Elida – the rich New Zealand mares slot race next year is on the horizon.  And Lilley is not ruling out a crack at the Elitloppet in Sweden in the following year.

For complete race results, click here.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink