Karuta Queen Beaten In Black Opal

Sunday, 13 March 2011 07:45

The Golden Slipper remains the target for Karuta Queen despite the filly's shock defeat in the Black Opal Stakes after which she was found to be slightly lame.

The previously unbeaten filly was the star attraction at Sunday's Canberra meeting after trainer Neville Layt opted to run her there instead of Warwick Farm on Saturday.

The Magic Millions winner started $1.20 in the $250,000 Listed Black Opal (1200m) but was outgunned in the straight by You're Canny ($11) who provided local trainer Gratz Vella with his biggest moment in racing.

Layt was one of the first to congratulate Vella on You're Canny's 1-1/2-length victory over Karuta Queen before declaring he still planned on the filly being a player in the Golden Slipper.

"She was first-up for 10 weeks and she's gone down by a length and a half," Layt said.

"That other horse was rock hard fit and had raced two weeks ago.

"She'll be right. She has got herself into the Golden Slipper and she'll be there when they've got to run in the Slipper.

"It was only in the last 50 metres that he got the better of her."

After a second veterinary examination following the race, Karuta Queen was found to have grade one lameness in her near fore leg.

Chief steward Craig Yeo said although it was a minor lameness issue the filly would need a veterinary clearance before racing again.

Layt said he didn't foresee any problem with her getting to the Golden Slipper in top shape.

"I'd rather this happen in a $250,000 race than in a $3.5 million race in about two and a half weeks," Layt said.

"She'll be there on Slipper day. She might have just done a bit too much work on Tuesday morning and it might have taken a bit out of her.

Regular rider Tommy Berry bounced Karuta Queen to the front and she led the field to the turn with You're Canny ready to pounce if there was a chink in the filly's armour.

There was and he got the better of her in the final 50 metres with Bright Heart 2-1/2-lengths away third.

Berry said Karuta Queen obviously wasn't the same horse that sprinted to victory in the $2 million Magic Millions at the Gold Coast in January.

"Usually she pulls you into it but she changed stride before the turn and instead of giving me four lengths when we straightened she only gave me a length," he said.

"It didn't feel like she was going to win the whole way up the straight."

Vella has been training for 30 years and had twice finished second in the Black Opal before Sunday's success.

"The horse has always showed me a bit of promise and I knew we were against the odds today but I had the horse super fit," Vella said.

"My first starter in the Black Opal was Royal Lot in 1981, he won the start before and ran fourth that day. Ever since then I've just been dying for this occasion.

You're Canny is not in the Golden Slipper but Vella is considering the Group One Sires' Produce Stakes.