Queen Regent set for surprise bid in The Rosebud

Having achieved one of last season's most significant Black Type upsets, the team behind Queen Regent is poised for another attempt at defying the odds in a feature race.

The filly, under the care of trainer Blake Ryan, is set to commence her campaign in Saturday's $200,000 Listed The Rosebud at Rosehill. This outing will be her first since a dominant victory in the Woodlands Stakes at Scone in May.

Queen Regent was a $151 chance at Scone, with initial odds reaching $201, and she is currently available at $51 in the all-in markets for the upcoming race.

The Rosebud represents Queen Regent's initial start as a three-year-old. Ryan acknowledges the challenge of facing colts but indicated that this is the appropriate level to target for the leading filly in his Hawkesbury stable.

"There's nowhere to hide anymore – she's a Black Type winner, so you've got to run in them," Ryan stated. "I'm confident that she's improved and strengthened. Where that leaves her, we'll find out Saturday."

The Woodlands Stakes was only the second appearance for Queen Regent. Her debut resulted in a fourth-place finish over 1000m at Hawkesbury just over a month prior.

She recorded a sixth-place finish in her only trial this preparation, finishing within 1-1/2 lengths of Hostwin King, who could be a rival on Saturday.

While Ryan would have preferred to keep Queen Regent against fillies for her comeback run, he chose to target the 1100m of The Rosebud rather than a 1200m resumption. He believes this race will offer clarity on her campaign trajectory.

"She's only had the two starts, one at 1000 and one at 1100, but you come back into spring and all the fillies races kick off at 1200, whereas the colts get two cracks at 1100 – Saturday and the San Domenico (Stakes)," he explained. "I didn't really want to go to 1200 first-up when I don't know if she can get it. So, I thought we'll go to The Rosebud and, if she measured up, then we'll go three weeks into the Furious."

The Furious Stakes, a Group 2 race for fillies over 1200m worth $300,000, is scheduled to be held at Randwick on September 5.

Queen Regent is one of 25 horses entered for The Rosebud. Among the potential challengers are the impressive colt Central Europe from Chris Waller's stable, as well as Blue Door and Castillo King, both of whom have been victorious in their sole starts. Chilly Girl, trained by Ryan's father Gerald and his partner Sterling Alexiou, is also in the mix.

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