Golden Pendant at Rosehill is fit for a Queen

Banana Queen strung together a hat-trick of victories last preparation and now that she has another one on the board, her trainers are hoping she can put together a similar winning sequence.

The mare had a mixed start to her campaign on paper, running fifth as favourite on resumption at Randwick in July then finishing worse than midfield behind Perciles at her next start.

A sound fourth in the Mona Lisa Stakes at Wyong followed, before she found her best form with a stylish win in the Group 3 Tibbie Stakes (1400m) last start.

Co-trainer Gerald Ryan wasn’t surprised to see Banana Queen bounce back at Newcastle after she over-raced when ridden positively first and second-up, then found herself in front too soon at Wyong.

“When you go back through her form, she is best ridden off the speed,” Ryan said.

“The other day she got a great run, perfect ride and she was too strong.

“When she finds her form, she holds it and there were excuses her first few runs this time in.”

Banana Queen will be on an eight-day back up when she strives to expand her black-type resume in Saturday’s Group 2 Golden Pendant (1400m) at her home track of Rosehill.

The daughter of So You Think will be taking on some class opposition in Group 1 winners Atishu, Espiona, Zougotcha and Sheeza Belter, although Ryan’s biggest concern is a lack of obvious speed.

“There doesn’t look to be a lot of speed in the race on paper which worries me, but you never know,” he said.

“She’s had those runs, she’s on an eight-day back-up so you wouldn’t expect her to be as keen as she can be.”

Banana Queen has met with early support, firming from $15 into $11 with Espiona a $2.60 Boombet favourite, just ahead of her Chris Waller-trained stablemate Zougotcha at $3.10.