Trainer Gary Quinlan could well be trippin’ the light fantastic at Tabcorp Park Melton tonight when Queen Of Pop lines up in the Group 3 Harness Breeders Victoria Silver Chalice.
A winner of the Australian Pacing Gold as a two-year-old, Queen Of Pop has raced sparingly due to numerous issues, but with a string of runs behind her is starting to put it all together.
“She has been pretty good all along this campaign. Over the journey she has had her fair share of injuries and this is her first real season of racing she has had,” Quinlan said.
“She has got through her classes pretty quickly and, obviously it is a big jump in grade, but I am happy with her and she has drawn well, so we will see how she measures up.”
Drawn in barrier one, Anthony Butt, who replaces suspended driver Chris Alford, will have plenty of options from his inside draw and Quinlan will leave tactics up to the experienced Kiwi.
“Anthony is a good, aggressive driver, so he will have the opposition worked out and he will know what to do,” Quinlan said.
Quinlan believed the two main dangers were the outstanding Lovelist and Belinda McCarthy prepared Makes Every Scents, but he also paid due respect to Starburst Girl.
Provided she gets through tonight unscathed, Quinlan suggested Queen of Pop would be freshened for a tilt at the Sires series later in the season.
The HBV Silver Chalice will be race eight on a nine-race program, which also features the Uncle Petrika Trotters Free For All, when Keystone Del can break through the million-dollar stakes mark.
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