Trainer John Sadler is happy with the condition of Vain Queen heading into the 2015 Robert Sangster Stakes, but be believes that the talented mare will need luck in running to take out the Group 1 event at Morphettville this weekend.
Vain Queen is currently on top of 2015 Robert Sangster Stakes betting markets. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett
Vain Queen is currently on top of Robert Sangster Stakes betting markets following her strong efforts in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 28 and the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on March 27, but her winning chances in the race took a hit when she was allocated barrier 13 on Tuesday.
Sadler told RSN that Vain Queen was most impressive in trackwork this morning, but he admits that he is unsure where the Artie Schiller mare will end up in the early stages of the race and he feels that luck in running could decide the Robert Sangster Stakes.
“I am certainly looking forward to it,” Sadler said.
“It is what she has been set for for some time and she has just worked and she seems in really good order.
“I am very pleased with her, but it is a very even race and she is going to need plenty of luck from the barrier.
“I just don’t know what we are going to do.
“The preference is to just sit off the speed and not get too far back and from 13 that is a little bit difficult to do.
“If she could get the gun run and she had drawn four or five on Saturday then she would have been able to sit just off the pace and then she can really let go like she did when Damien Oliver rode her up the straight.”
Vain Queen has previously recorded two race wins over 1200 metres, but a number of racing experts have speculated that the five-year-old does not completely run out the trip and that she is better suited at 1100 metres.
Sadler is confident that this is not the case and he believes that Vain Queen’s tough run in the William Reid Stakes indicates that she will have no problem running out the trip in the Robert Sangster Stakes.
“I think she is as good at 1200 as she is at 1100,” Sadler said.
“I thought she ran really well in the William Reid; she was there to be gunned down because she was three deep most of the way and that was only because of the alley.
“She strode to the lead when they straightened for home and she was there to be gunned down and Bossy had given Lucky Hussler a beautiful run.
“He swept past her, but her run was really good and prior to that in the Oakleigh Plate she just got held up and I don’t think she was going to win, but she would have finished a lot closer.
“The 1200 metres is not a problem for her.”
Vain Queen is currently available at 2015 Robert Sangster Stakes odds of $5 with Ladbrokes and is a narrow favourite from Miracles Of Life ($5.50), Avoid Lightning ($7) and Politeness ($8.50).
