My Kingdom Of Fife, a well-bred galloper formerly owned by the Queen of England, has earned a shot at Group 1 glory in Australia after the Chris Waller-trained import scored the upset of the day at Randwick last Saturday.
The fix-year-old Kingmambo gelding went out as a $151 roughie in the markets for the $125,000 Group 3 Doncaster Mile Prelude (1600m) on AJC Derby Day as they made their Australian debut.
In a stunning come from behind upset, My Kingdom Of Fife was able to beat home a more fancied field of rivals including runner-up Hidden Wonder and third placegetter Bold Glance by a minimum quarter of a length margin.
“He has been with us for about three months and we didn’t really know what to expect,” Waller said.
“I didn’t expect him to win but he was trained to win the race.
“We’ve bought a nice horse. He has surprised us, but as we do with all our horses we try and give them every chance leading into a race and he’s had a couple of barrier trials and plenty of work and was given the perfect ride.”
After the race Waller gave a chuckle as he named the $500,000 Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) as the next assignment for My Kingdom Of Fife.
“We were thinking Wagga Cup or Doomben Cup but we might have a go at the Queen Elizabeth with him now,” Waller said.
“I don’t know if I would get a call if I won her (Queen Elizabeth’s) race with one of her old horses.”
The Queen Elizabeth Stakes is one of four Group 1 features running at Randwick’s Sydney Cup Day on Saturday week, the meeting marking the official end of the Sydney Autumn Carnival.
Now being hailed as one of the best European imports to grace Waller’s Rosehill stables, the former Sir Michael Stoute-trained My Kingdom Of Fife has started 20 times for four wins earning close to $300,000 in career prize money.
Waller purchased the horse off the queen for just $50,000.
Meanwhile, Doncaster Mile Prelude third placegetter Bold Glance was one of 18 acceptors for the $2 million showdown running this Saturday when the Doncaster Mile field was released this morning.
The Norm Hilton-trained Sequalo gelding from Toowoomba has been in career best form this preparation having won both the Magic Millions Cup (1400m) at the Gold Coast in January as well as the Carbine Club Gold Coast Stakes (1200m) in March.
Bold Glance was beaten less than a length in the Doncaster Mile Prelude in what Hilton saw as the perfect Doncaster trial.
“It was an outstanding run,” Hilton said.
“He was never on the track and seeing as this was Plan B after he dropped Scotty (Seamer) on the way to the barrier in the George Ryder last week, I’m very happy.”
Bold Glance drew ideally with barrier three for the Doncaster on Saturday and is currently a $67 roughie in the markets that are lead by firm favourite More Joyous.
