Muchea trainer Justine Erkelens has her eyes on Saturday week’s Bunbury Cup (2000m) with Own The Queen, hoping the glamour mare can find the winner’s list once again.
After she blitzed the three-year-old features a year ago, snaring the Ascot 1000 Guineas (1800m), Natasha Stakes (2200m) and WA Oaks (2400m) treble, nothing has gone right for Own The Queen this time in.
Barriers, bad luck in running and even a buck jumping exhibition when she had to be eased out of the Ascot Mile two starts back, it’s been a frustrating campaign to manage for Erkelens.
Interspersed with the ordinary has been the very good, a ripping first up run, followed by a second to boom mare Bonjoy in the Starstruck Classic (1600m), and a gallant third in last Saturday’s Detonator Stakes (1800m).
Despite the roller coaster campaign, Erkelens has not lost faith in Own The Queen and says the Bunbury Cup looks an appealing option for her.
“It’s just been a shitty prep, really,” Erkelens said on Tabradio.
“A few things haven’t gone right for her, having no luck in running and then the mishap with the saddle (Ascot Mile).
“But she’s pretty smart and gets over things pretty quickly, which is a bonus with her.
“So, onwards to the next one and we’ll go to the Bunbury Cup and see what she does there.”
Erkelens may have uncovered another top line filly who could well follow the same path as Own The Queen as a three-year-old.
After a solid second on debut at Bunbury, Machine Gun Gracie went one better in impressive style at Pinjarra on Sunday,
The daughter of Maschino skipped clear after leading to the turn and put up a margin of 4 ½ lengths over her nearest rival.
“She is showing us so much potential,” Erkelens said.
“I was hoping she could win her first start because we really want to get into the Ascot 1000 Guineas in a couple of weeks.
“She is so quiet; a lovely filly and we were really pleased with the run.”
More sobering for Erkelens is the injury to promising three-year-old filly, Northern Diamond.
A daughter of Bondi and placed in three of four starts, she was set to resume after a trial, but an autumn campaign has been ruled out.
“She’s had a bit of a minor hiccup at the moment,” Erkelens said.
“At the moment she’s having a bone chip operation and will go out for a little break.”
