Gaining some vital black type for a future breeding career was at the forefront of trainer Graeme Richardson’s plans for consistent mare Queens Rose this winter and the first tick in that column was achieved in style at Tauranga on Saturday.

A heady ride from jockey Vinnie Colgan that saw him hug the inside fence throughout the run home enabled the gallant mare to stave off a desperate challenge from race favourite The Filly to score in the days feature event, the Listed Team Wealleans Tauranga Classic (1400m) for the fillies and mares.

Hustled forward to sit outside the pacemaker Eveready in the early stages of the race, Queens Rose was guided to the inside rail by Colgan as the field began to swing wide as they entered the home straight. Amongst the immediate pursuers was The Filly who moved to the middle of the track to issue her challenge before drifting towards the rail as she chased in vain after Queens Rose. Vigorous riding by Colgan saw his charge hold an advantage to the winning post where she scored by a long neck.

In the process Queens Rose reversed the result of her last meeting with The Filly where she had to play second fiddle to that mare over the same distance in an open handicap event at Ellerslie. Three-year-old filly Choice battled home nicely for third albeit six lengths in arrears of the first two past the post.

“She’s a good mare and it was a superb ride wasn’t it,” noted Richardson after the race.

“I said to Vinnie he didn’t have to get off the fence although he already knew that from earlier races. The plan was to go forward as last time she just couldn’t make up ground on a tough track at Ellerslie but this time the ground was perfect.”

Richardson also reiterated the importance of the win to the mare’s career beyond the racetrack.

“She is going to be a broodmare one day so to get some black type with her was our number one priority,” he said.

“We hadn’t managed to do that until today so it is an excellent result.”