Former West Australian star Arcadia Queen showed that she is ready to reign over her Everest opponents after displaying all of her talent with an effortless win in the Group 2 $200,000 Tooheys 150th Birthday Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill.
Arcadia Queen. above, wins the Theo Marks Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
Arcadia Queen was having her first run for Sydney’s leading trainer Chris Waller and didn’t disappoint by swooping to the front half way down the straight to secure a very comfortable one and three quarters lengths win over the Team Hawkes trained Trope ($5.50).
The Kris Lees trained Gem Song ($15) ran on from the back to gain third spot behind Arcadia Queen who delivered as the $1.95 favourite.
“Today gave me a bit of excitement about race day and just felt on edge a little bit because you’ve been given a horse like her to train. There’s a bit pressure involved but I’m very grateful to get the opportunity to train her,” Waller said.
“She was sent over in great condition. We picked out a race to start her off in with a pretty ambitious second up run and it’s worked out brilliantly.”
“I felt a bit of pressure today for the first time in a few months. It was a good feeling to get that feeling back.”
Arcadia Queen proved her credentials during the 2018 – 2019 Perth Summer Carnival with a win in the Group 1 $1m Kingston Town Classic (1800m) at Ascot and again proved today that she will be a force to deal with in the $14m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 19.
James McDonald was happy to settle Arcadia Queen in a lovely spot in fourth position and once McDonald eased her into the clear in the straight, the result was never in doubt.
Waller indicated that Arcadia Queen won’t have another run before The Everest but has to confirm that owner Bob Peters.
“I’ll have a good chat to (Bob), he knows the horses better than me,” Waller said.
“Our plan was not to overrace her and I don’t want to take the speed out of her because we’ve got an Everest over 1200m. I don’t think she’ll be running again but I’ll have a chat to him.”
Arcadia Queen is now marked at $10 for The Everest at Ladbrokes.com.au and will run in the slot owned by The Star.
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