06 March 2018 | Shane Yates
Queens Advocate scored one of the most courageous victories of her outstanding career on Sunday night in the Plunkett Family Ascot Gold Cup.
The eight-year-old Mcardle-Genes West mare, owned by Lauren Dwyer and trained by Matthew Dwyer, was the first to take the race on thanks to the mercurial touch of Todd Rattray and the gamble paid off.
As the class field of 13 runners made their way past the 1200-metre pole Todd decided it was now or never and moved the mare out three-wide to make her bold move.
Dylan Ford wasted no time on the 20-metre backmarker Star Chamber and quickly hitched his wagon to the back of Queens Advocate in the run to the judge’s box with the bell sounding.
Gareth Rattray was dictating the terms on the Steven Davis prepared Black Centurian while The Majority toiled away in the death chair.
At the 400-metre mark Todd sensed a chink in the armour of The Majority and he surged forward on Queens Advocate and the sprint to the post was on.
Black Centurian and Queen’s Advocate and the brothers-Rattray settled down for a ding-dong struggle as the chasing pack was left flat-footed.
Black Centurian was still in front 50-metres off the line but Queens Advocate was not to be denied grabbing the lead near the post and staving off the barnstorming late challenge of the Easter Cup runner-up Isaac and Star Chamber which warmed up late to grab fourth just 2.7-metres from the winner.
Queens Advocate has been in the Matty Dwyer stable for just one season and has been a model of consistency winning the Launceston Mile and the Toreace Flying Mile in Hobart.
“She has had a year off which appears to have done her the world of good, Queens Advocate has had 12 runs for us for three wins and five placings,” said Matthew.
“She galloped out in the Devonport Cup and lost 60-metres and was beaten only 10, so she just had to go away cleanly to be a super chance, I told Todd to drive her like she was the best horse in the race and he drove her a treat.”
“We will give her another run Sunday in Launceston and then all going well we will head to the Easter Cup Series.”
Todd Rattray dominated the nine race-card greeting the judge on four occasions, as well as Queen’s Advocate ($6.50) he steered home Goggo Gee Gee ($5.00), Kvitova Leis ($2.30) and Cardinal Art ($13.00).
The Paul Hill-trained Ideal Bliss further enhanced her status as the state’s top filly with a fighting win in the Triple M Hobart Three-Year-Old Fillies Championship over interstate invader Ghadastar.
Master reinsman Gavin Lang shot last year’s Evicus winner Ideal Bliss to the early lead and held the opposition at bay up the home stretch to take a further step toward a tilt at the Tasmanian Oaks.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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