QUEEN BIDS FOR BEVERLEY CORONATION

Tue 23rd June 2020
Beverley Image 5

In-form filly Colony Queen goes for a third consecutive victory when she runs today at Beverley.

Trained in Lincolnshire by Steve Gollings, the four-year-old daughter of Gregorian has been a revelation since her transfer from James Tate’s yard last May.

Colony Queen has won four times from just seven starts for her new connections and is now on a hat-trick following victories at Newbury and at Newcastle earlier this month.

Gollings is once again optimistic that the filly can add further gloss to the statistics by winning the £7,250 mile-and-a-quarter handicap (3.45) at Beverley.

The Louth handler said: “She’s just a very, very genuine filly.

“Every time she runs, Colony Queen continues to surprise us.

“She’s just a proper racehorse. She loves racing and she wants to win so much. You just can’t knock her resolution.

“She was plenty fit enough at Newcastle when she won, but, at the same time, you’d like to think she’ll come on for that run.

“I honestly thought she’d win a bit easier at Newcastle, but you couldn’t fault her attitude.

“She’s just a cracking filly and one day I’d love to get placed in a Listed race and get her a bit of black type as she’d deserve that.”

Of her chances at Beverley, Gollings added: “I’ve had a good look at the card and it’s by no means a walk in the park.

“But the fact she’s already run at Beverley – she finished second in a lady amateurs’ race there last summer – will stand her in good stead.

“The stiff mile and a quarter will suit her nicely and she’ll enjoy running up that long home straight there.

“Fingers crossed everything’s set for another good run.

“It’s not going to be easy, but I wouldn’t swop her for anything else in the field.”

Colony Queen takes on 13 rivals at Beverley, with the Brian Ellison-trained Tim Rocco set to carry top weight.

Previous Beverley winners Delph Crescent and Northern Lyte have also been declared, while Knowing and Power Of States run for Newmarket trainers James Fanshawe and Hugo Palmer respectively.

Beverley’s nine-race card begins at 12.45pm, with the official going currently good, good to firm in places.

A warm, dry afternoon with a high of 23C has been forecast ahead of Beverley’s third behind-closed-doors fixture of the season.

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