The filly’s trek south to attempt to keep her unbeaten record intact was not on her original programme. Otago racegoers have a lack of suitable races in the North Island to thank for her Wingatui visit, Rae, who trains in partnership with his wife, Lisa, and Krystal Williams, said.
"I wasn’t going to bring her back down."
"There are no races for here. I took her home [to Ruakaka] and there is not a single suitable race for her in March-April."
A quick study of the southern programme meant Rae had to load his charge on a truck south a week ago in search of a suitable contest.
"The programming down here fits in perfect. It goes from 800m to 1000m to 1200m."
The timing meant Prom Queen goes into today’s race without a trial since winning during New Zealand Cup week in early November. The change in programming and the lack of a pre-race trial has Rae unsure about where the filly is in terms of fitness for tomorrow’s opening race.
"I galloped her [on Thursday] morning and she galloped very well."
"She is forward enough to be competitive."
Making things trickier for the trainer is the filly’s moderate attitude towards her work.
"For a 2yr-old she is an unbelievably relaxed horse and it is super hard to get a line on her."
"She seems 90% forward. She has got class — I wouldn’t be surprised to see her win."
Rae sees tomorrow’s race as being a case of Prom Queen coming fresh on to the scene against several more race-fit opponents.
"Kiwi Ida and a couple of others have got the runs under their belt, but she has got the fresh legs."
One other factor against Prom Queen is that she is sneaking up the weight scale, having to carry 57kg tomorrow, but Rae will not be using that as an excuse.
"They are only running 800m. If she gets beaten, she gets beaten by a better horse on the day."
Rae will need to find something to do between race 1 and when his only other runner, Kolaman, lines up in tomorrow’s final race, more than six hours later.
The wait may be worth it, as Kolaman impressed Rae with his lead-up work this week.
"He worked really good. I would be disappointed if he didn’t run in the money."
The one thing that has held the horse back is his brain power, rather than his legs, Rae said.
"He has got the ability. It is like the penny hasn’t dropped. He is like a 4yr-old with a yearling’s brain."
- Jonny Turner
