Queen Elida Photo by Stuart McCormick
WHAT a finish to the feature trotting season we have in store.
Mighty mare Queen Elida broke through for her biggest win of the season and her first Trotting Masters’ series win in 2023 when she toyed with her rivals in last Saturday night’s $100,000 Group 1 Bill Collins Trotters’ Sprint at Melton.
While globetrotting superstar Just Believe returns to the trials at Melton tonight (Monday).
It’s mouthwatering to think about a return clash between Just Believe after his fantastic Sweden raid mid-year and a more mature and flying Queen Elida.
Despite Queen Elida winning 11 of her past 12 starts, she won’t be able to catch Just Believe for the Trotting Masters’ title.
Just Believe’s wins early in the year in the Great Southern Star and Trotting Grand Prix have him on 260 points and with an unbeatable lead going into the last leg, the Ladbrokes Inter Dominion final at Albion Park on December 16.
Queen Elida’s 100 points for the Bill Collins’ win took her into equal third spot of 120 points with Aldebaran Zeus.
Perched in second is another high-class mare, Im Ready Jet.
She’s “earned” points across four of the five legs of the series so far. The 10 points she got for finishing fifth behind Queen Elida last Saturday night took her to 150 points.
Champion driver Chris Alford described Queen Elida as a “freak” after she posted her seventh Group 1 win in the Bill Collins.
“She’s just a freak,” he said. “I’ve been saying she’s the best trotter I’ve driven for a while now, and she’s still got upside.”
Trainer Brent Lilley said the Inter Dominion was the next big target and ruled out a trip to Sweden’s huge Elitloppet next year.
“No, she’ll be staying closer to home next year… maybe the year after for the Elitloppet,” he said.
“She’s not the best traveller, and there are some good races for her here, like the Great Southern Star and the new (trotting) slot race Cambridge has launched.”
Queen Elida boasts a remarkable 29 wins from just 47 starts, with another 13 placings. She’s banked $626,565.
