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By Greg Prichard

Queen Of A Hand was only narrowly beaten by an Evergreen Turf Country Championships aspirant last start and is well placed to go one better at the Taree race meeting on Sunday.

The three-year-old filly, trained by Glen Milligan at Taree, will contest the Ray White Taree Class 1 Handicap over 1000m.

Queen Of A Hand (Dylan Gibbons) heads to the barriers when previously trained in town. Image by Bradley Photographers

It’s a drop in distance from when Queen Of A Hand ($3.20 into $2.30 favourite on TAB) was second to Pony Soprano in a Class 1 event over 1206m at Port Macquarie on January 24, but Milligan said that will only help her chances.

Pony Soprano, trained by Robbie Agnew at Port Macquarie, is headed to the Evergreen Turf MNCRA Country Championships Qualifier at his home track on February 16, such is Agnew’s high opinion of him.

Queen Of A Hand was formerly trained by John O’Shea & Tom Charlton at Randwick and Milligan has had her for three starts.

She kicked off by winning a Maiden over 805m at Coffs Harbour and then was fifth in a Class 1 over 900m at Muswellbrook before her Port Macquarie second.

“I think she’s only got to repeat her first-up run or even her run at Port,” Milligan said. “She’s coming back to 1000, but that suits her perfectly.

“She fought back well the other day. She revved up a bit over the 1200 metres and wanted to over-race, but she still dug deep at the end and it was only a bob of the head on the line.

“I won’t be afraid to run her over 1200 again, but I’m only going to give her one or two more runs this campaign and this is a nice race for her at home.

“I’ve got a bit of time for her, she’s a nice filly, and this looks a very winnable race on paper.

“I just don’t want any rain, which isn’t forecast, because if the track became rain-affected I wouldn’t run her. She just doesn’t like it.

“It was a heavy track at Muswellbrook when I ran her there and she just didn’t get through it.”

The Taree surface was rated a Soft 5 on Friday, with the sun shining and further good weather forecast.

Milligan also has Bob’s Last One ($10) and Craig’s One ($6.50) in the final event on the eight-race card, the Stud & Stable Staff Awards Country Boosted Benchmark 58 Handicap over 1250m.

“They’ve both got a chance, but Queen Of A Hand is my best chance by far,” he said. “If she gets beaten I’ll be disappointed. If I’m going to win a race then she’s most likely the one that should be winning.”

*First race 1.05pm. Gates open midday. Full TAB and bookmaker facilities. The Turf Bistro and bar inside the Winning Post Function Centre open. General admission $10 and concession $5.

See Manning Valley Race Club Facebook page for more details.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Taree here