Our Queen Reigns Supreme

Queen of The Air (3 f I Am Invincible - Flying Single, by Flying Spur) produced a performance fitting of a $1.60 shot when bolting away with the $22,500 Aranui Harvesters Rating 65 1200 metres on 8 February at Awapuni.

Looking big and bold in her
preliminary, following a second at the trials on 22 January at Matamata, Queen
of the Air went forward to lead at the 700m, travelled best under Rosie Myers
turning for home and proved a class or two above her rivals when racing clear
to win by five lengths.

Having created a favourable
impression winning her first trial as a two-year-old, Queen of the Air did what
few would think possible when winning her Maiden in track record time (1:09.6)
for 1200 metres at Waverley, beating subsequent Eulogy Stakes (Gr. 3, 1550m)
winner Queen of Diamonds (Savabeel) by nearly four lengths.

True to form, she stopped the
clock at 1:09.2, last 600m in 34.2 - a feat few in this grade can achieve.

Now the winner of two from six
for the Te Akau Supersonic Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Queen of
the Air was purchased by David Ellis for $240,000 at the 2017 Gold Coast
Yearling Sale, after being high on the list during inspections.

“She was very impressive and any filly that breaks a track record winning a Maiden race indicates an enormous amount of potential and she could have a crack at black type shortly,” Ellis said.

“Jamie (Richards) and the team have done an excellent job getting her to this level, adopting a patient approach and the owners are being rewarded.

“She's got a really good bunch of
owners. Some newer owners came into the horse and others that have been friends
of mine for a long time.

“He is a really good sire, I Am Invincible, and we've got some smart horses by him in the stable. One we bought last year at Karaka, out of Mabsam, we paid $410,000 for and we think she is a very good filly.”

Queen of the Air is developing into a valuable filly. Her dam, Flying Single, is a half-sister to the stallion Not A Single Doubt (Redoute's Choice) and Bella Sunday (Sunday Silence), the dam of Flight Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner Oohood (I Am Invincible), while second dam is the well related Rory's Jester (Crown Jester) mare Singles Bar, a half-sister to four stakes' winners including Snippets (Lunchtime).

Queen of the Air notched the 62^nd
win this season for trainer Jamie Richards: sitting second on the leader board
and first in prize money.

“It was another impressive win by the filly,” Richards said. “She's had a few little immaturity issues and we've had to back off her after the win at Waverley, where she beat a very good horse (Queen of Diamonds).

“She had spelled and trialled
well, coming to hand nicely, and we were pretty confident she would run well,
and Rosie (Myers) gave her a lovely ride. She didn't overdo it to make the
lead, got over nicely, slowed them up to get a cheap sectional and I thought
she quickened up really well.

“She's a fast filly that can go
to the next level and the type that could have a really good win in her. She
was a very good purchase by Dave (Ellis) at the Gold Coast. A big strong Aussie
bred sprinter and good for the owners.”

Ellis also reported on the
recently purchased yearlings, now at Te Akau Stud.

“Shares are being snapped up by owners and Karyn (Fenton-Ellis) is doing an unbelievable job communicating with everyone,” he said. “We've had a lot of visitors to the farm. My colts' syndicate was filled earlier in the week and we've fully sold 28 horses, so far.

“They've all settled in
incredibly well. They look fantastic and it's great that so many interested
people are coming out to see them. We've still got some shares in some
beautiful yearlings and don't forget that both Avantage and Sword of Osman were
the last two horses to fully sell in their year.”

Avantage was a Karaka Million and
Group One winner on her way to being named Champion Two-Year-Old, and Sword of
Osman is a Group One, Two, and Three winner.

Queen of the Air was strapped by
Kate Belsham.

“Kate's a young lady with a terrific background in racing (father Paul Belsham was a rider and trainer) and she's doing a great job for us. She is a very capable horsewoman, has social media skills, and someone I'm really proud to have in the team,” Ellis said.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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