Karuta Queen is an odds-on favourite to make a winning return at Warwick Farm on Saturday but rival trainer Joe Pride has declared her vulnerable.
Pride will saddle up La Remlap and Phenomenal Lass in the www.tab.com.au Handicap (1000m) and figures it’s a good time to take on the Queanbeyan filly.
“A filly like Karuta Queen, you wouldn’t want to meet her down the track but where she’s first-up and we’re race fit on a wet track, it might be our opportunity to beat her,” Pride said.
The Neville Layt-trained Karuta Queen won the 2011 Magic Millions and further endeared herself to the racing public in the spring with her courageous second to Black Caviar in the Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield.
She had her turn in the sun on Cox Plate day when she claimed the Group Three Australia Stakes before finishing runner-up to African Pulse at Flemington.
First-up last campaign Karuta Queen was third behind Foxwedge and Anise in the San Domenico Stakes and while she won her only start on slow ground, she is untested on anything worse.
La Remlap isn’t in the same class as Karuta Queen but she handles the wet and has had the benefit of two recent runs.
After resuming with a third to Social Rank over 1000m at Warwick Farm she was beaten a nose by Al’s Magic Miss over 1100m at Canterbury last Saturday.
She will carry 51kg after the claim of apprentice Shaun Guymer, 5-1/2 kilos less than Karuta Queen.
“She’s drawn OK (five). She will probably get a run just off Karuta Queen and Social Rank and with 51 on her back we give her a good chance,” Pride said.
Phenomenal Lass is not suited in the wet but Pride says she needs racing to keep on track for her autumn goals which include the Breeders’ Classic.
The mare failed to beat a rival home when she resumed in the Canterbury Classic won by Unanimously but Pride said the effort should be forgiven.
“She was disappointing first-up but the race was run at a thousand miles an hour and she just got carved up,” he said.
TAB Sportsbet have Karuta Queen the dominant $1.40 favourite ahead of La Remlap at $5.50 with Phenomenal Lass a $12 chance.
The Matthew Dale-trained Unanimously has been scratched and will run at Caulfield.
The Warwick Farm track was rated a heavy (8) on Friday afternoon with rain expected to ease overnight.
AAP TURF
