Ishiyaya faces class test in Victorian Queen

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Mike Mattine has had a productive Woodbine meet with his juveniles, and he will saddle the 2-year-old filly Ishiyaya in Saturday’s $100,000 Victorian Queen Stakes.

After getting bumped at the break, Ishiyaya ran fifth with a wide trip at first asking going six furlongs Aug. 10. Two weeks later, in a shorter Ontario-sired maiden special, she pressed the pace en route to a comfortable score over five furlongs.

“First time out from the 12 hole, she broke a little slow,” Mattine said. “She ran even and got tired at the end. Then, I cut her back, and she was much the best. She won pretty decent, but there wasn’t much in there. This is a test. If we can get a piece, third or fourth, I’ll be happy.”

Seven Ontario-sired 2-year-old fillies were entered in the six-furlong Victorian Queen, including several runners from the $177,400 Muskoka, an Aug. 29 stakes for graduates of local yearling sales.

KEY CONTENDERS

Ishiyaya, by Souper Speedy
Beyers: 55-44

◗ She’s one of two Mattine-trained winners by leading Ontario freshman sire Souper Speedy. The other, Souper Hot, is looking to rebound Sunday in the Bull Page Stakes off a flat effort in the Simcoe Stakes.

“After that last race, he really woke up,” Mattine said of Souper Hot. “I expect him to run better. He had a nice comeback work.”

Notice Me, by Court Vision
Beyers: 49-57

◗ After closing wide for second traveling six furlongs on debut, she won a slow seven-furlong maiden special by 5 1/2 lengths on Aug. 31 for trainer Catherine Day Phillips.

◗ The last two Victorian Queen winners were by Court Vision: Line of Vision and Conquest Vivi.

Preferred Guest, by Society’s Chairman
Beyer: 52

◗ Over a track that favored outside closers, she altered course while rallying inside to finish second in her only race, the 6 1/2-furlong Muskoka. Her trainer, Mark Casse, won the 2016 Victorian Queen with Conquest Vivi.

Silent Mistake, by Silent Name
Beyer: 52

◗ She also debuted in the Muskoka, making the lead in the stretch after a three-wide stalking trip before flattening out to be third.

Moksgmol, by Cold Harbor
Beyers: 41-52-46

◗ She ran dead against the bias in the Muskoka, battling for the lead along the inside before fading to 10th. She was previously fifth in the Shady Well Stakes.

Georgian Dancer, by Souper Speedy
Beyers: 50-43

◗ She rode the bias to a respectable fourth-place finish in the Muskoka. That was her first outing since July 14, when she romped in a five-furlong maiden special.

◗ Her Canadian Hall of Fame trainer, Robert Tiller, has won the Victorian Queen three times.