Leading owner-breeder Bob Peters is warming to the prospect Of Antique Queen causing an upset in Saturday’s $125,000 Listed Belmont Classic (2200m).
Antique Queen goes up against raging $1.75 favourite and dominant Belmont Oaks champion, Petrouchka and Bob Peters hopes that she can at least make the Grant and Alana Williams-trained filly earn her win.
Antique Queen ran fourth to Petrouchka in the Belmont Oaks, beaten just over a length, but Peters gained confidence from her strong finish after a tardy start.
“She’s coming along very well,” Peters said on Tabradio.
“She was a bit unlucky in that race last start where she missed the start.
“I think if she hadn’t missed the start she might have been in the placings.
“We’re hoping she can do the same thing again, but not miss the start.
“If she had shown us she was training off, or anything like that we would have stopped.
“But she is going along quite well and the race was there.”
Antique Queen is currently $11 and shares the third line of betting with Lyrical Angel and Manzor Magic.
Belmont Classic runner-up, Weeraechoux, is the $4.40 second favourite, out from $3.60.
Antique Queen has drawn barrier 10. Pat Carbery takes the reins from Chris Parnham.
Carbery won the Belmont Classic previously when booting home, Intowishin for trainer Alan Matthews in 2004.
Meanwhile, Peters admits Allentown’s trial win at Lark Hill on Monday came as a pleasant surprise.
In his first official hit out, two-year-old son of Charm Spirit showed dash in his 400m heat.
“I can’t remember the last time we had a horse in a 400m trial,” Peters said.
“It’s a bit unusual for us but he needed a gallop and wasn’t ready for the 900m.
“He surprised me a bit with the speed that he had.”