Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Hopeland trainer-reinsman Aiden De Campo has four-year-old Copy Cat Queen racing in dazzling form, and the mare gave further proof of her outstanding sit-sprint capabilities when she was eighth at the bell before flying home to score an easy win in the $23,000 Fresh Hits And Throwbacks On Nova Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Her superb performance was a virtual replica of her fast-finishing easy win the previous Friday night.
Copy Cat Queen was a $4.40 chance from out wide at barrier No. 8, and De Campo was happy to let her settle down at the rear while the polemarker Ekara Navajo ($11) was setting the pace.
Nase Vira, the $3.60 favourite, was last early before surging forward to move to the breeze in the first lap. Copy Cat Queen was eighth at the bell before she began a fast move in the back straight and was forced to travel four wide at the 400m on her way to bursting to the front 180m later on her way to winning by two lengths from the strong-finishing $41 outsider Pushbutton Rock.
The final quarters were run in 28.4sec. and 28.7sec. and Copy Cat Queen rated 1.56.2 without being extended.
“It was the same as last week, but she had to go a bit wider this week,” said a delighted De Campo. “She worked into it well and got the job done.”
Copy Cat Queen has earned $113,606 from ten wins and six placings and gives every indication of developing into a contender for the rich feature events for mares later in the year.