Arena Queen’s long trek worth the journey for Jamie Scott

Seymour trainer Jamie Scott
Jamie Scott after winning Race 5, Gallipoli BM64 Handicap 2400m at Bendigo Racecourse on April 24, 2016 in Bendigo, Australia. (Brendan McCarthy/Racing Photos)
SEYMOUR-BASED trainer Jamie Scott’s 290km journey to Wagga for a solitary race proved to be an astute move after Arena Queen took out the Class Three Thomas Blamey Handicap on Thursday.

The six-year-old daughter of Arena, which was a $5.70 winner at Crownbet.com.au, had to be patiently ridden in the straight by Simon Miller, but after being slightly checked at the 200m mark the mare eventually balanced up and torched the field in the latter stages to record its third win from four attempts at Wagga.

Crisalli ($4.70 at Topbetta.com.au) hugged the rails and battled on well to finish second ahead of Flying Cyril, which returned $3 at Sportsbet.com.au.

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The win was a complete form reversal for Arena Queen after its last-placed finish at Sandown at the beginning of the month, but Scott was willing to forgive the run.

“Her last run at Sandown, the track was disgraceful,” he told HorseBetting.com.au.

“I walked it before the race and I thought ‘this is okay’, but when it rained she just had an off day.”

Despite the poor run in the city, Scott was excited to bring the horse back to a track where it has excelled in the past.

“Even though she just ran badly that day I was pretty confident coming to Wagga today, because she worked pretty good on Tuesday,” he said.

“She’s always been a pretty willing horse, she always puts her best foot forward except for a couple of runs.

“We are all entitled to an ordinary performance every now and again.”

The track was potentially going to be a concern for Arena Queen, which previously had just one start on a firm track for no placing.

Scott said that while Wagga was rated good on Thursday, he was confident that the track would suit his mare.

“I wanted to walk the track before the race because it worried me a little bit,” the trainer explained.

“She really doesn’t like it too firm, but today I thought it was just enough give that allowed her to sprint pretty well to the line.”

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In what has been a hit-or-miss period for Arena Queen, the horse has either won or finished outside the top five in its last four starts.

Finding soft and heavy tracks may prove difficult for the stable as spring approaches, and Scott is taking the patient approach.

“I’m not too sure,” Scott said when asked what’s next for Arena Queen,” he said.

“We’ll just get over today, she hadn’t run in about three weeks after I decided to give her a freshen up after the poor run at Sandown.

“I knew this race was here and I was happy to come back to Wagga given she has now won four races from five starts and a very unlucky sixth.

“But we’ll just take it as it comes.”

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