Lion Queen hitting the line strong. Photo by Photography by Jodie Hallows
Mike Reed, Swandoo Harness Racing Pty Ltd and driver Shannon Suvaljko combined for a treble at Pinjarra on Monday, with Lion Queen, Yourshoutrocky and Montana Glory NZ taking top spots in their respective races at the paceway on February 6.
Lion Queen, who was just having her second start in a race, was impressive in race two on the card when she led all the way over the 1684m, pulling away to win by a 7.5m in 1:56:8 in the open 2YO maiden.
“I think she’s something special, she’s pretty good. She came home in 54.8 and it was only her second start in a race. I think she’s really, really good.”
“Willi Giumelli picked her out, she just liked her because she looked like a stallion, and she did, and she said that’s what we want. By Control The Moment I was a bit hesitant as he was an unproven sire, but she wanted it all along, so she got it.”
Bred by KTC bloodstock, The $47,500 purchase in last year’s APG yearling sale is out of Lilliana Beauty USA, the producer of Gr 1 winner Tenniele Erin, who took out the $100,000 Sales Classic final in 2017 for the Charles family. Mike Reed and connections will be looking for a repeat performance with their filly in this year’s Sales Classic, with heats in a fortnights time at Gloucester Park on February 21.
It was a day of triumphs for Mike Reed and owners Swandoo Harness Racing Pty Ltd, with Montana Glory NZ claiming her first victory in WA at just her third start for her connections.
After purchasing the now four-year-old from New Zealand in mid-2021, Covid19 made it difficult for Reed to get her home, with the mare grounded in Melbourne once she flew out of her home country. After sending her north to Sydney with hopes of getting her on a flight, those plans were soon shattered, seeing Montana Glory sent to the paddock for 9 weeks before she was eventually floated over to WA, a float ride that didn’t fair well for the youngster at the time.
“When she got here, she had laminitis in both front feet, bad. So, we treated her, and treated her and I think we’re on top of it now, thank goodness.”
The wins weren’t unexpected for Reed, with the Henley Brook based trainer saying that all three horses had been working well leading up to Monday’s races.
Montana Glory NZ lined up as the $1.07 favourite in race five, with Suvaljko able to lead all the way from barrier three to win comfortably over the 1684m trip, with a winning mile rate of 1:58:6.
