Abbaye Date For The Platinum Queen

[Wandering Eyes]

Group 1-placed filly The Platinum Queen (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) will start next in the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye on Oct. 2, according to Middleham Park Racing's Tom Palin. The five-furlong specialist was not entered in the six-furlong Sept. 24 G1 Cheveley Park S. at Newmarket on Tuesday morning.

“The Platinum Queen is a very useful filly,” said Palin. “We didn't confirm her for the Cheveley Park this morning [Tuesday], we want to keep her to five furlongs so she will head straight to the Abbaye now–all being well.”

A debut winner at Ripon in June, the daughter of Thrilled (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) was unplaced in the G2 Queen Mary S. at Royal Ascot later that month, but returned to take both a York novice and a Goodwood conditions stakes, in July. Stepped up to Group 1 company, she found only three-time top-level heroine Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) too good in the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe S. on Aug. 19. After leading for most of the G2 Flying Childers S., The Platinum Queen missed by only a short head to Trillium (GB) (No Nay Never) on Sept. 11. Fellow Middleham Park runner, the Sept. 16 Listed Rosebery S. hero Prince Of Pillo (Ire) (Prince Of Lir {Ire}), was fourth in the Flying Childers.

“We felt they were two nice horses, The Platinum Queen and Trillium, I think that's been confirmed there with Prince Of Pillo's performance at Ayr that they are perhaps the two nicest fillies in Europe,” Palin added.

“She ran an absolute blinder in the Nunthorpe so it's a logical target. There is the G3 Cornwallis [S. on Oct. 7] that we could go for of course, but Prince Of Pillo is going to go there so that's his race.

“We were already in the Abbaye with her and she's shown she can cut it against these older sprinters–if you took Highfield Princess out of the Nunthorpe then The Platinum Queen wins the race by two or three lengths.

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