July 14, 2015
Grade III winner Risen Queen has been battling the best turf females at HRP for quite some time so the RGD at DEL seemed like a decent spot to rebuild some lost confidence and against a modest field, she sprinted home and scored her first win of the season but a going-away length over Tiz Flirt, who finished second for the third straight start. A daughter of multiple Grade I winner Risen Ruler, who excelled on dirt, she has really found her footing on the turf and as such, now ranks as his second highest earning offspring with more than $450.000 in earnings and multiple 98-speed ratings, this one earned with a track record for the niche 11-furlong distance.
Despite the marathon distance of the RGD, Aussie Haka (*2.00) broke slowly and dropped right to the back of the field, allowing Princess Mandy (2.80) to go out and set the early fractions from the outside. Risen Queen (2.65) took up the chase in second but around the first turn, it was clear that the leader was hellbent on a clear margin and quickly opened up multiple lengths in the first quarter-mile. Everyone got a good position in front of the stands for the first time and after an opening half-mile in a solid 48.29, Princess Mandy was still two-lengths to the good and going well on the front with Risen Queen in second and Wanted Lady (25.35) hugging the rail in third. Halfway through, the top two had sprinted well clear of the rest of the field with Risen Queen angling off the rail for her shot and passed six-furlongs in 1:12.31, she looked to have all the momentum as Princess Mandy started to show signs of weakening. Tiz Flirt (2.65) had also angled off the rail from almost six-lengths back and started to get into gear with four-furlongs to run but down the backstretch for the final time, Risen Queen inched forward and finally took over with three-furlongs left. Acceleration had not taken place yet, as evidenced by the even one-mile time of 1:36.27, and that left the new leader in complete command with fractions on her side and no signs of slowing down at any point. Tiz Flirt was still three-lengths in arrears at the head of the lane with Princess Mandy weakening and the other two distanced and even as Risen Queen moved to the middle of the track, she still kept her advantage in check. At the wire, the margin was a diminishing length with Tiz Flirt trying but falling just that little bit short, while still four-lengths clear of Princess Mandy, who held for a clear third. Aussie Haka showed little after that slow break and beat home only one horse, that being longshot Wanted Lady who was unable to handle the class at any stage.
Risen Queen ran the same race she did in the Red Carpet Handicap at DMR going this same distance, and came away with the same result; a simply put off-the-pace win as one of the top choices. These types of marathon races are right up her alley and the Waya at SAR, over the slightly longer 1 ½ miles, should be ideal for her to sit, stalk, pounce and hopefully take another win that will put her over the $500.000 mark in earnings.
Congratulations goes out to owner D J C Racing Stables and their four-year-old filly Risen Queen, a clear cut winner of the Grade III RGD at DEL!
Prediction Tiz Flirt / Princess Mandy / Risen Queen
Winner Risen Queen
Four-year-old chestnut filly
Risen Ruler-Mai Mia Bambina (Auto-Generated)
Owner D J C Racing Stables
Time 48.29, 1:12.31, 1:36.27, 2:12.55 (NTR)
Overall
Risen Queen 2.65 stalked, pounced, simple win
Tiz Flirt 2.65 midpack early, late run, fell short
Princess Mandy 2.80 set pace, no late drive
Aussie Haka *2.00 broke slow, never factored
Wanted Lady 25.35 outrun
Triple T Racing 🙂
Categories: Grade III
