Australia; Queen Assassin faces toughest test yet

The Australian 3-year-old filly Queen Assassin will face a class test in a six-furlong handicap at Sunshine Coast Racecourse, north of Brisbane on Saturday evening.

Queen Assassin was second in her debut last November and won a six-furlong maiden race at Doomben Racecourse a month later. In her lone start this year, Queen Assassin won a six-furlong handicap at tiny Kilcoy Racecourse on May, closing from third of seven to win by a length at 3-5.

The race at Sunshine Coast is against a slightly higher class and will be the biggest field Queen Assassin has faced, a full group of 16. Jockey Jaden Lloyd, who rode Queen Assassin in her first two starts, has the mount.

Queen Assassin set the pace in her debut and could default into that position at Sunshine Coast. Despite the big field, there are not many confirmed frontrunners.

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Three other last-race winners – Chief Artie, Crazy Brave, and In the Blink – hold good chances.

Chief Artie ended a 10-race losing streak with a two-length win in a six-furlong handicap at Ipswich Racecourse on April 28. Similar to Queen Assassin, Chief Artie faces a tougher set of rivals at Sunshine Coast.

Crazy Brave, a gelding, won his second career start in a six-furlong maiden race at Eagle Farm Racecourse on May 3, closing from sixth of eight to prevail by a length. Crazy Brave was second in his only previous start, in a maiden race at Doomben last November.

In the Blink, a 4-year-old filly, has won 3 of 18 starts, including her second start of 2023 in a handicap for fillies and mares at 5 1/2 furlongs at Beaudesert Racecourse on May 6. In the Blink tends to run from a stalking position.

Sunshine Coast has a 10-race program beginning at the convenient time of 9:05 p.m. Eastern or 6:05 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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