Sydney trainer Michael Freedman is considering a Melbourne autumn sprinting campaign with Queen Of The Ball.
Melbourne’s Festival Of Racing commences at Sandown on Saturday with the running of the Group 1 C F Orr Stakes (1400m) and it is a support race on that program, the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m), that is being considered by Freedman to kick start Queen Of The Ball’s campaign.
The Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Sandown on February 25 is also being considered as an option as Freedman said there was a lack of suitable sprinting options open to his filly in Sydney.
Also in the back of his mind is Queen Of The Ball’s dislike for wet tracks.
In her two-year-old season, Queen Of The Ball took out the Group 3 Widden Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill and the Group 2 Black Opal Stakes (1200m) at Canberra.
“Unfortunately, there are no really suitable races for three-year-old sprinting fillies here in Sydney,” Freedman said.
“Also with the weather, it can be in the autumn very suspect, and she is hopeless on anything much worse than a soft five.
“She may run first-up at Sandown in a race like the Rubiton as a possible lead-in to a race like the Oakleigh Plate.
“We may be looking at a Melbourne autumn campaign just because there are more options for her.”
Although Saturday’s meeting at Sandown was conducted on a Soft 6 track, fine weather is predicted leading up to the Orr meeting which should suit Queen Of The Ball if she makes the trip to Melbourne.
Queen Of The Ball had three starts in Melbourne last spring, winning the Group 3 Champaigne Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley before finishing fifth to Paulele in the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes.
She rounded out her preparation finishing eighth to In Secret in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on October 29.
