Highly
rated Pierro mare Arcadia Queen was the horse generating the most interest at
Rosehill on Saturday and she lived up to expectation when zooming clear to win
the Group II ATC Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) as she pleased.
A homebred for Bob and Sandra Peters trained previously in Perth by Grant and Alana Williams, Arcadia Queen arrived at the stable of Chris Waller with the imposing record of five wins and a third from just six starts.
Given a lengthy spell after winning the Group I WATC Kingston Town Stakes
(1800m) last December, Arcadia Queen was tuned up with two recent barrier
trials and looked every inch a serious Everest contender with this dominant
return.Winning rider James McDonald was super impressed with Arcadia Queen.
"She's a star alright. She's very push button, she knew it was race day today," he said.
"She settled nicely in behind the leaders and gave her trademark turn of foot. She's beautiful to ride and I love how she pins the ears back and has a good crack - a bit like the horse I won this race on (Winx)."
It seems likely that Arcadia Queen will not race again between now and the Everest in IOctober.
"I'll have a good chat to Bob (Bob Peters), he knows the horses better than me. Our plan was not to overrace her and I don't want to take the speed out of her because we've got an Everest over 1200m," said Chris Waller.
"I don't think she'll be running again but I'll have a chat to him."
Arcadia Queen has the impressive record of six wins and a third from just seven starts with prizemoney topping $1.2million.
A half-sister to Group II WA Derby winner Arcadia Dream and stakes-winner Arcadia Rose, she is from prized broodmare Arcadia, a full sister to stakes-winner Broadway Belle, who has also given the Peters' Group II WATC West Australian Derby winner Action, another high class three year-old by Pierro.
A 15 year-old daughter of champion sire Redoute's Choice, Arcadia has a yearling filly by Domesday and is in foal to Pierro, who now looks to have two outstanding contenders for The Everest in Arcadia Queen and Pierata.
