QUEEN SET FOR BRISBANE WINTER CARNIVAL CAMPAIGN
- Provincial Racing NSW
- 20 minutes ago
- 3 min read
SHE could become the “queen” of Brisbane’s winter carnival.
Group 1 winning Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle has planned a program for his classy three-year-old filly Harlem Queen which could culminate with another tilt at a major.
Doyle’s racing manager David Dyson has outlined the races Harlem Queen will contest after she heads north midweek, with her first start a week before the official start of the carnival.
“All going well, she will run in three feature races against her own age and sex before a decision is made whether she goes on to the Group 1 Queensland Oaks,” Dyson said.
“Harlem Queen will begin her Queensland campaign at Eagle Farm on Saturday in the Listed Princess Stakes (1600m) at set weights.
“She will then go to the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m) on May 10, and a fortnight later the Group 2 The Roses (2000m) at Doomben.
“Depending on her performances, Nathan will then decide if Harlem Queen runs in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm a fortnight after The Roses.
“We’re looking forward to seeing her making her presence felt in Brisbane.
“Her two runs back in Sydney this preparation have been outstanding.”
Harlem Queen was a late closing first-up third in a Benchmark 88 Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 15 before again making ground after jumping from the outside barrier and being widest on the home turn when third to Lekvarte in the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes (1500m) there on April 1.
“Nathan put blinkers on the filly for the Emancipation, and she was brilliant,” Dyson said
The daughter of Doncaster Mile winner Brutal underlined her class last spring in a trio of Group 1 assignments.
Harlem Queen was runner-up to gun filly Lady Shenandoah in the Flight Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick, fourth in the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) there against the boys, and fourth to another star filly Treasurethe Moment in the VRC Oaks (2500m) at Flemington.
Harlem Queen’s stablemate Churchill’s Choice is also headed for Brisbane, giving her trainer a strong hand at the winter carnival fillies’ features.
Churchill’s Choice resumed at Randwick yesterday with an excellent fourth, beaten little more than a length, to Lilac in the Group 3 James HB Carr Stakes (1400m) against her own age and sex.
The filly’s rider Kerrin McEvoy unsuccessfully protested against third placegetter Clean Energy, alleging interference approaching the 100m.
Churchill’s Choice had been unbeaten at her first three starts at Scone, Newcastle and Randwick in November and December, and her performance yesterday confirmed she will also be a worthy winter carnival contender.
. Fellow Newcastle trainer Jason Deamer, following a Doomben victory with Jumeirah Beach at Doomben last Saturday, clinched a double at yesterday’s Port Macquarie TAB meeting.
Deamer won both the Maiden Plate (1006m) with Sagaponack ($3.50) in the Maiden Plate (1006m), and Justifiably ($5) in the Maiden Plate (1590m).
Ben Looker rode both horses, taking Deamer to 17 wins for the season.
He has been successful with four of his last eight starts, beginning with another Looker mount Yamba’s Girl at Taree on April 5.
Newcastle apprentice William Stanley sent punters home on a winning note when he landed the closer at Kembla Grange yesterday, the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1500m) on $2.25 favorite Last Command.
Story John Curtis, April 20, 2025