News

Vain Queen eyes crowning glory in Group 1 William Reid Stakes

26th Mar 2015

Herald Sun - by Rod Nicholson - Wednesday, 25 March 2015

Trainer John Sadler well remembers his first success in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes — 1994 was a very good year.

Sadler saluted with Lady Jakeo in what was then known as the Australia Day Stakes (run in January) and in December his apprentice jockey son, Tom, was born.

“It really was a big year. I remember the race because it was built-up as a match race between Hareeba and Schillaci — just like the 1983 Cox Plate with Bonecrusher and Our Waverley Star — but we came over the top of them to win,” Sadler said of his previous year’s Blue Diamond Stakes winner.

“The year ended with the birth of Tom, who will be 21 in December, so I recall 1994 with a lot of fondness.”

Much has happened in the past 21 years, with Sadler training in Dubai and then Singapore before stints with Lloyd Williams and in conjunction with Troy Corstens at Malua Racing.

Now at Caulfield, Sadler knows that patience is a key to success — but that he has waited long enough between William Reid Stakes wins. He has been particularly patient with Friday night’s candidate in the $400,000 Group 1 feature, Vain Queen.

“She races best when fresh and so we have spaced her races,” he said of the five-year-old mare, who has raced 13 times for seven wins since her debut victory at Ballarat in April 2013.

After Group 3 success in the Mumm Stakes (1200m) at Flemington in November, she spent four months off the track until her return fourth in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 28.

“She just got held up at a crucial stage of the race,” he said. “So it was a good run. We took her to Moonee Valley on Monday morning and she worked over 800m with Carashan Girl, who is an excellent track worker. She had a good hit-out, ran good time and I could not be happier with her.”

Sadler bided his time when he bypassed the Newmarket Handicap with the “straight six” specialist to concentrate on the Reid.

“You don’t have Lankan Rupee, Chautauqua, Terravista or Brazen Beau in the William Reid,” he said. “Those sprinters scared off a lot of us, but it has left this a winnable Group 1 without them.

“She deserves another chance at a Group 1. She’s had one go at it (in the Oakleigh Plate) and came within two lengths of winning after an interrupted run, so I believe we will be right in this at the finish.”

Sadler said Vain Queen would need luck in running — she has drawn barrier nine in a 14-horse field — as she gets back in her races.

“But we are lucky we have been able to replace Damian Lane (who has started a stint in Hong Kong) with Nick Hall. He is like his dad (Greg): he is a big occasion rider.”