Steno’s brilliant burst earns another tilt at the Queen Elizabeth

Mercurial mare Steno (Sweet Lou) stamped her credentials for the forthcoming $200,000 Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes with a brilliantly timed burst to take out the Listed Prydes Racing Cube Sibelia Stakes at Menangle on Saturday night.

Steno had put the writing on the wall with running a close second at her two previous harness racing appearances at Menangle.

Drawn out wide Steno was backed into a short priced favourite ahead of the star mare Gunna Reload who was coming off the back of her success in the Wagga Riverina Championships.

In a fierce early battle The Answer won the battle for the lead with Gipsy Princess taking the trail behind the leader. But no sooner had the field settled down then Will Rixon on Gunna Reload took off to eventually race outside the leader. Meanwhile Luke McCarthy was just biding his time albeit near the rear of the field.

McCarthy elected to follow Can Be A Reube who gradually moved in the back straight to get within striking distance of the leader.

STENO 18 APR REPLAY

Gunna Reload forged to the front on straightening but although Steno was out very wide she sprouted wings and she sprinted so quickly that she had just under three metres to spare over Gunna Reload who held on for second with Can Be A Reube in third placing. By finishing fourth The Answer earned a place in addition to the above for the Queen Elizabeth mile on 2 May.

Steno ran the mile in 1.53.8 including her last quarter in a scintillating 26.5 seconds.

Steno has now had 64 starts for 25 wins and 23 placings and has now stake earnings of $675,253 for her owner Dianne Kelly who bred the seven year old mare.

Last year Steno went down by half a head to Eye Keep Smiling in the Queen Elizabeth so this time she’ll be looking to go one better in the classic feature.

Another four invitations for the Queen Elizabeth Mile will be revealed after the running of next Saturday’s Robin Dundee Stakes, with two additional invitations one already given to flying mare Captains Mistress.

For complete race results, click here.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink