The Queen reigns supreme

By Michael Howard (HRV)

The Queen is back at the head of the table and like her divine stablemate is set for big things for Brent Lilley’s powerful trotting stable.

Much loved Queen Elida produced her first victory of the year at Tabcorp Park Melton, in handsomely winning the Aldebaran Park La Coocaracha Trotters Free For All, just a week after Aldebaran Zeus scored in the Group 1 $100,000 Hammerhead Mile at Menangle.

“Zeus was great and just a big relief to have Elida back on track as well,” Lilley said.

The trainer’s affection for the pair was “a dead heat”, but Queen Elida made sure she was again prominent in the conversation with the commanding win.

Reinsman Chris Alford drove a patient race in the La Coocaracha Trotters Free For All, confident Queen Elida would be able to bridge the gap to leader Keayang Livana when called upon, and so it would prove.

“(The Inter Dominion) seemed to toughen her up a bit, we’ve known she’s always got the speed but now I think she can sustain it for so much longer,” Alford said.

“She could have gone to the front at probably the 600 if I wanted to but she has that little tendency to knock off when I hit the front, so I was just happy when Jason (Lee) started chasing (Keayang Livana) up down the back, it was beaten and I didn’t want to go to the front too early. It was a nice and cosy run for her first up.”

“Nice and cosy” was an apt description after Queen Elida showed her customary speed to clear out for a seven-metre win from an impressive Electrojet, while Sleepee ran on well to claim third and bank more important points in the Kerryn Manning Trotting Mares Triple Crown.

For the winner, it was also a strong sign that she could return to the form that had her favourite for December’s SENTrack Inter Dominion, in which she ultimately ran a bold third in the final.

“She showed that speed that we know she’s got. Looking forward to the $75,000 good mares race in two weeks’ time.”

That is the Aldebaran Park Sumthingaboutmaori Trotters Free For All, a Group 1 for trotting mares and the final leg of the triple crown.