Queen’s Pal gains reward for consistency

Press, 22 October 1984, Page 20

Queen’s Pal gains reward for consistency

Special correspondent Wellington The grand South Island mare Queen’s Pal took her career winnings to beyond the $90,000 mark when she beat a good field in Saturday’s $20,000 Huttons Handicap at Trentham. On a lightning North Island tour, Queen’s Pal picked up $13,750 for her two runs. She was fourth in Princess Dram’s Evergreen Stakes at Hawera on Wednesday and then grabbed $13,000 for running first on Saturday. Queen’s Pal has now won $90,700 from 14 wins and 15 placings. Only nine times has she 'been out of the money. •

Her success on Saturday was helped immeasurably by the change in ground conditions. It was posted as good early in the- day, but changed to easy soon after and was cutting out noticeably by the time the Huttons was run. In the end Queen’s Pal had two lengths and a half to spare over Clackamas, with Rebel Royale rushing home late into third place. Dun Allen was fourth, Magnitude fifth and Silver Elm, not quite as race seasoned as her opponents, faded a little to be sixth after making a bold bid to win on the turn. Queen’s Pal is raced by her breeder, Mrs Florence Griffin who was one of the

first clients of the mare’s trainer, Tony Prendergast. At the time Prendergast was training out of Wingatui and for Mrs Griffin he brought Lomond Queen to Trentham to be placed in the Winter Oats. The mare built up a sound record and as a broodmare foaled, among others, Queen’s Pal, by Palatable. Queen’s Pal looked good in early three-year-old racing and was as good as any South Islander, but on a couple of previous visits to Trentham had the misfortune to run into types like McGinty and Our Flight. About a year , ago, Prendergast, training in partnership with his wife, Lynne, moved north to set up at

West Melton, out of Christchurch. The property has its own track ana that is where Queen’s Pal does most of her work. On Saturday the mare was ridden by Grant Davison, who last term won the Chalmers on Miles Better and since then rode with success in Brisbane. Though Cup week at Riccarton opens in a couple of weeks, Queen’s Pal is unlikely to be there because of firm tracks. Within a couple of hours, Queen’s Pal was en route home via Picton, and into the paddock. She may race over Christmas, Prendergast said, but much will depend on track conditions.