DEVONPORT Cup winner Queen Of Fire booked a berth in next Sunday’s Easter Cup when she scored an impressive win in a heat over 2698 metres at Mowbray tonight.
With leading reinsman Gareth Rattray in the cart, the mare steppe cleanly from her 10-metre handicap and was up racing second after travelling 200 metres.
But when the driver of the leader Touchwood Bucksta (David Medhurst) slowed the speed, Rattray sent Queen Of Fire scorching around the leader to take up the running.
The race favourite and 2010 Easter Cup winner Our Sir Jeckyl (Ricky Duggan) settled midfield after stepping cleanly from his 20-metre handicap.
But when the pace slowed again and the horse facing he breeze, Land Of Panaarm, dropped off the pace, Duggan sent his charge up to face the breeze.
The well-backed pair settled down to a two-horse contest 500 metres from home but Queen Of Fire ($3.70) shrugged off the challenge 200m out and went on to defeat Our Sir Jeckyl ($1.90) comfortably with I’m Hood Winked a closing third after being held up three-back the fence for most of the race.
Queen Of Fire’s owner-trainer Zeke Slater was delighted with the win and believes the mare is now capable of winning the Easter Cup.
Listen to what trainer Zeke Slater had to say about Queen Of Fire’s Easter Cup heat win – click here.