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Neville Layt stood on the steps opposite the winning post at Queanbeyan racecourse on Tuesday morning and saw exactly what he wanted to see.

Magic Millions winner Karuta Queen “worked the place down” on the course proper with Layt declaring the filly on target to bounce back to her best when it matters most in Saturday’s $3.5 million Golden Slipper (1200m).

Karuta Queen will hope to return to winning form in Saturday's Golden Slipper - Photo by Steve Hart

Karuta Queen will hope to return to winning form in Saturday's Golden Slipper - Photo by Steve Hart

The former second favourite for the Slipper, Karuta Queen suffered a shock defeat in the Black Opal at Canberra on March 13, but on Tuesday morning clocked a sizzling 32.7 seconds for her final 600 metres in her final serious hitout before the world’s richest race for two-year-olds at Rosehill.

“She even worked better than when she went into the Magic Millions, I really mean that,” Layt said.

“Up there (at the Gold Coast) she ran 33.1 seconds (for the last 600 metres of her work) and today she ran 32.7 and 21.9 seconds for her last 400 metres.

“I put another horse with her to make sure she worked and she would have left the other horse 20 lengths behind.”

Layt’s son Adrian was in the saddle for the 1000m hitout with regular jockey Tommy Berry to get his first taste of the Golden Slipper on Saturday.

“Adrian just came back in and said it was brilliant,” Layt said.

“And she pulled up clean-winded and wasn’t blowing. She’s spot-on again.”

Layt was adamant after the Black Opal that Karuta Queen would improve dramatically in the three weeks leading into the Slipper and Tuesday’s gallop confirmed to him that the daughter of Not A Single Doubt was ready to run the race of her life at Rosehill.

“I was absolutely stoked (this morning), she showed me what I wanted to see,” Layt said.

Karuta Queen came up with barrier 13 at Tuesday’s draw with a final field of 16 plus one emergency declared.

She will begin from gate 12 should the emergency Do You Think not gain a start.

“I’m not overly concerned (with the draw),” Layt said.

“I’m out there with some of the better chances. The only one that’s drawn better than any of us is Satin Shoes and if Satin Shoes happened to lead I’d be quite happy to be sitting back running third or fourth.”

Layt said Karuta Queen, as always, would be positive early to press forward and try to get a position somewhere out of trouble.

Karuta Queen was at $17 with TAB Sportsbet on Tuesday morning immediately after the draw but firmed to $15 after a bet of $3000 was taken on the filly.

AAP TURF

 
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