Karuta Queen High And Dry In Big Wet
- Friday, 10 December 2010 05:15
Queanbeyan has experienced its worst flood in years this week but local trainer Neville Layt doesn't expect the weather to have any major impact on Karuta Queen's Magic Millions preparation.
"We've worked the horses but we haven't been able to do what we normally want to do," Layt said.
"But in saying that, Karuta Queen was going to do nothing this week anyway.
"It's been bedlam with the rain but I'm just one of the lucky ones, I'm on a sort of hill where the only thing I've got is waterlogged yards.
"As far as the tracks go, yesterday all we could do was get them (the horses) out for some exercise, we couldn't get them on the tracks at all."
Layt's stables are on course at Queanbeyan racetrack which he said was about two kilometres from the Queanbeyan River and was safe from the flood.
"All we've had is waterlogged tracks and a lot of meetings washed out," he said.
Nominations for next month's $2 million Magic Millions Classic (1200m) on the Gold Coast closed on Friday.
Karuta Queen, unbeaten in three starts including her 2-1/4-length Wyong Magic Millions victory on Sunday, is likely to head into the Gold Coast feature on January 15 without another start.
"I honestly believe that it's going to take a really smart one at the Gold Coast, if she draws right, to beat her," Layt said.
The trainer is looking to head to Coffs Harbour in early January to set up base in a "nice quiet environment" ahead of the filly's Gold Coast mission.
Layt is favouring just giving the daughter of Not A Single Doubt a barrier trial, possibly at the Gold Coast, ahead of the race.
Not since champion sprinter Takeover Target burst onto the scene winning his first seven races has a Queanbeyan-based horse made such an impact in Sydney.
Takeover Target thrust his owner-trainer Joe Janiak into the spotlight and took him all over the world in a glittering career.
While Karuta Queen isn't expected to reach the same dizzying heights, Layt believes the filly is a "Group horse" and declared after the win at Wyong on Sunday: "I think she'll take me on the ride of my life".
