Magic Millions winner Karuta Queen is back at Neville Layt’s Queanbeyan stables to be prepared for an early season stakes mission.
The inexpensive Karuta Queen and her knockabout trainer were the feel-good story of this year’s Golden Slipper but the big race proved beyond her and she was sent for a spell.
“She came back in last week and she has done a treat,” Layt said of the $1.5 million earner.
“She had seven weeks in the paddock and now we’ll get her ready for the San Domenico Stakes.”
The Group Three San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on August 13 is a traditional starting point for NSW’s top three-year-olds heading towards the spring carnival riches.
Layt had considered racing Karuta Queen exclusively in Melbourne during the spring but is now keen to race her in Sydney.
Karuta Queen took Layt on the ride of his life during the filly’s two-year-old season which netted four wins from six starts.
The daughter of Not A Single Doubt won her first four starts including the Magic Millions 2YO Stakes at Wyong and the $2 million Magic Millions Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast.
She suffered her first defeat when run down as $1.20 favourite in the Listed Black Opal Stakes in March and then she led the field up in the $3.5 million Golden Slipper before weakening to finish 10th.
“She has thickened right up,” Layt said.
“She hasn’t grown much and she’s a bit hairy still, but that’s just because of the time of year.
“We’ll build her up slowly and she’ll probably trial in about six weeks and we’ll see where we are at.
“She has come back terrific. She needed a good spell and she’s had that.”
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