The Shalaa (IRE) filly Queen Of Nations hit the ground running, defying an alarming betting drift when making a winning debut in the Bet365 Odds Protector Maiden (1200m) at Geelong.
With Patrick Maloney in the saddle for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, Queen Of Nations took up the running from the Fiorente debutante Tapa Capall, and the pair settled down to fight the race out.
Every time Tapa Capall threatened, Queen Of Nations answered every call to edge Tapa Capall by a half-neck with a further short-neck back to the Awesome Rock gelding Red Sun Sensation who finished solidly for third.
Bred by Burke Bloodstock, Queen Of Nations was a $220,000 purchase for Snippets Racing Syndications / Mick Price Racing / Suman Hedge Bloodstock at the 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
She is the third winner from as many to race from the unraced Lonhro mare Transocean a daughter of the Moonee Valley winner Boat Quay.
A daughter of Belong to Me (USA), Boast Quay is a half-sister to Group II WATC Lee Steere Stakes winner Silverstream (Al Maher), Group III AJC Adrian Knox stakes winner Speedy Natalie (Al Maher), and the Listed Ramornie stakes winner Calanda Snitzel.
Burke Bloodstock consigned a Harry Angel (IRE) half-sister to Queen Of Nations to the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, with S Nolen having the final say at $42,000.
Queen Of Nations is the eighth 2yo winner of the season for Shalaa (IRE).
The Arrowfield stallion came close to making it nine when the John O’Shea-trained debutant Shalailed was edged out by Trapeze Artist’s brother Master Showman at Hawkesbury.
