MY SNOW QUEEN TAKES A PROGRESSIVE STEP

By Graham Potter | Wednesday, January 25, 2023

My Snow Queen made it two wins from three starts since relocating to the David Vandyke stable when she saluted in a BM70 contest over 1200m at Doomben on January 25.

The four-year-old daughter of Star Turn, who had previously raced for trainers John Sargent and John Smerdon, had won first-up for the Vandyke stable on December 24 (eleven days after winning a trial).

That win came at Beaudesert in a Class 2 over 1200m, a result which was difficult to assess, given that Mount Fuji, the horse she beat by 0.20 lengths, had not won for over a year.

My Snow Queen’s follow-up run ... in which she finished third in a Class 3 Handicap over 1200m at the Sunshine Coast (her home track) again produced a fair enough result on paper as she finished only two lengths behind the winner He Knows ... but, fair to say, the jury was still out.

As with almost all of the horses that Vandyke takes on after they have already seen some race action, the expectation of improvement is there ... and My Snow Queen certainly found that when competing in her latest assignment at Doomben.

The betting gave a clue of what was to come with My Snow Queen marked up favourite at $2.70 (Divine Courage was the only other runner quoted under $10).

Ryan Maloney landed My Snow Queen in the lead at the break, but he then elected to let the speed to his outside go as Magnitudo ($11) took over in front with Moloney settling My Snow Queen in second place at a comfortable gallop as the leader, pulling hard, raced a couple of length clear at the head of affairs.

Magnitudo increased his lead by four lengths approaching the home turn, but he had raced ungenerously for much of the first half of the race, while Maloney played the patience game aboard My Snow Queen who had second place locked down, so it might have been expected that Magnitudo would tire in the home straight.

He did not.

Instead, Magnitudo kept finding in a very brave, strong gallop to the line, which ended up providing a very good test for the chasing My Snow Queen, who was the leaders only danger.

My Snow Queen still had three lengths to make up coming through the 200m mark. That deficit was down to one-and-a-half lengths with 100m left to run ... but, although My Snow Queen now had momentum on her side, it was still a real battle which Snow Queen ultimately won, getting past Magnitudo in the last 20m.

My Snow Queen had passed the test, showed the improvement that was expected and had put her fourth career win on the board.

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