A surgical procedure is credited with resurrecting the career of in-form mare Banana Queen, who heads to Randwick on a three-race winning streak and a mission to earn a black-type opportunity.
A daughter of So You Think, Banana Queen showed promise at her initial campaign but struggled with breathing issues when she returned in the autumn.
She subsequently underwent a successful tie-back operation and is finally delivering on her early potential.
“Her first two runs were good and we put her out ready to go to Queensland but she came back and developed a wind problem,” co-trainer Gerald Ryan said.
“By the time she finished her third run she was getting no air at all. We operated on her and she has come back really well.”
Banana Queen has excelled over the summer, stringing together a hat-trick of wins, the most recent over a mile at Randwick.
She returns to the same course and distance for the Acy Securities Handicap (1600m) on Saturday where another bold run will earn her a start in next month’s Group 3 Aspiration Quality (1600m).
Ryan believes the four-year-old can extend even further in journey and also has his sights on the Epona Stakes (1900m) two weeks after that.
“If she can run well on Saturday we will aim her at a couple of the mares stakes races over the autumn,” Ryan said.
Brenton Avdulla partnered Banana Queen last start and sticks with her at Randwick where the mare shares early favouritism with the Bjorn Baker-trained Cosmic Minerva at $3.80.