Vain Queen gets the chance to resurrect Queensland winter carnival aspirations when she runs at Caulfield on Saturday.
The four-year-old mare returned from a lengthy spell at Sandown on April 26 and slumped to the first defeat of her career in a performance trainer John Sadler described as “terribly disappointing”.
The winner of her first four starts, Vain Queen pulled up with the thumps after running fourth and Sadler is hoping the condition explains the three-length defeat.
Sadler has aimed the talented mare at the Group One Tatt’s Tiara next month in Brisbane but said she would need to win Saturday’s 1100m mares handicap at Caulfield to warrant heading north.
“She’s a Brisbane candidate but it will all depend on her next run,” Sadler said.
“She pulled up with the thumps last start. She’s been treated for it. She had a very solid hit-out yesterday morning and went well. She needs to win and win well next Saturday to go to Brisbane.”
The thumps is a diaphragmatic spasm which causes laboured breathing and has been compared to hiccups in humans.
Should Vain Queen return to winning form the mare would head to Brisbane for the Dane Ripper Stakes as a lead-up to the Tatt’s Tiara.
The trainer’s apprentice son Tom will ride Vain Queen on Saturday.
“I haven’t had that many horses pull up with the thumps but the ones that I have have never raced well,” Sadler said.
“How much effect that had on her, I’m guessing. But I’m hoping that was the reason for her poor performance. If it wasn’t we’re in trouble.”
A Brisbane trip is also a consideration for Saturday’s Flemington winner Henwood but Sadler admits it’s more likely he will remain in Melbourne.
Henwood is nominated for the Stradbroke Handicap but would need to run in a lead-up race in Brisbane to boost his chances of getting into the Group One race.
“The chances are he’s probably not good enough for a Stradbroke and may not have done enough to get a run but we’re discussing it,” Sadler said.
“If he doesn’t go to Queensland he’ll be set for the Winter Championship (in Melbourne).”
Sadler won last year’s $1 million Stradbroke with Linton.