By MIKE DILLON
The Easter weekend weather forecast proves that everything is finally starting to go right for Party Queen.
Trainer Graeme Sanders is delighted with the prediction of rain for late this week, because it will help the chances of his giant mare in Saturday's $120,000 Jaguar Easter Handicap at Ellerslie.
Sanders set Party Queen for the Easter at the beginning of this preparation and thought he had lost control when he had to scratch the mare from Tauranga recently because of a ricked joint.
"But she's back to it," said Sanders yesterday.
"She galloped very well this morning and she's going into the race 100 per cent.
"She's had the two runs to get her ready and she won't be missing the Tauranga outing."
Party Queen's previous win was in the $100,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Classique at Tauranga a year ago.
Sanders had been hoping for better luck in the barrier draw than Party Queen normally has to cope with and says mid-field at No 12 is "okay."
Party Queen's best efforts have been on rain-affected tracks and, with substantial rain forecast for Auckland tomorrow and showers through to the weekend, the likelihood of footing to suit the mare is extreme.
But it could stop Sanders' other Easter accepter, Magic Winner, from starting.
"He's pretty much a firm-track horse. He's okay when it's easy or maybe even just soft, but after that he struggles.
"He is very well at the moment and goes well when he's fresh, so he's a chance, but the track would need to be reasonable and if it's not I'll pull him out."
Rain would also be welcomed by visiting trainer Kevin Gray and his two Easter runners, Country Rose and Miss Jessie Jay.
Country Rose is out to avenge her bad luck in major races at Ellerslie.
The quality mare finished close up in a group-one McDonogh Railway on the track, then looked a good thing beaten when a head second to Sir Howard in the $150,000 Highview Stud Trophy on January 2.
Gray now sees as a blessing Country Rose's luckless 10th at Awapuni last Saturday.
"If she'd got the gaps and won it would have meant her having a hard race, whereas she's come home and really thrived."
Michael Walker is sure Country Rose would have won last week with the right breaks.
Racing: Party Queen's trainer to be singing in the rain
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