Late maturer Queen Of Kings (NZ) (Prince Of Brooklyn) has a gilt-edged opportunity at Phar Lap Raceway on Wednesday to add to her record.
The five-year-old has been in fine touch this preparation and looks a leading chance in the Jon Snow & Echoes Of Heaven Handicap (1600m).
A daughter of Prince Of Brooklyn, she broke her maiden at Oamaru during the winter and two runs back doubled her tally when successful in an open handicap at Ashburton where race rival Iffididit finished third.
In between times, she has posted three minor placings and through her campaign has run well on all manner of underfoot conditions.
“She’s been doing things right and it’s a small field so she should get every chance,” said Len Stewart, who at the start of this season was joined in partnership by granddaughter Lacy.
“She’s taken quite a while to develop into a solid horse and finish off properly.”
Gosen Jogoo has guided Queen Of Kings to both of her career successes and will continue his association.
“She’s in good form and Gosen rides her very well, she’s quite a dependable mare,” Stewart said.
Queen Of Kings will be opposed by only five rivals on Wednesday, one of them her nine-time winning stablemate Sympathique who hasn’t had the rub of the green in her last two outings.
“She hasn’t had a lot of luck and Kate (Hercock) is on her and she’s riding very well,” Stewart said.
The stable has five other runners in action at the Phar Lap Raceway, including the in-form Fawke Lightning (NZ) (Iffraaj) in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1200m).
“I’d like to see her win, one of my old mates Bill Jelley, who has passed away, raced her and his daughter Shona is racing her now,” Stewart said.
Fawke Lightning has placed in two of her four outings this preparation, including consecutive runner-up finishes, most recently over the course and distance and at Riccarton.
“You just have to get the breaks, but she’s picking up money before she gets into the Rating 65 grade so it’s all right,” Stewart said.