Consistent mare The Velvet Queen is set to end her racing career in Saturday’s Group 3 Strickland Stakes (2000m) at Belmont Park.
The five-year-old has built a formidable record of seven wins and six placings from her 24 starts.
She was placed twice at Group 3 level and won the $100,000 Ascot Mile (1600m) in 2023.
The Darren Mcauliffe-trained galloper enters Saturday’s $200,000 event off the back of an encouraging performance in the Hyperion Stakes (1600m).
Despite showing no signs of losing her zest for racing, McAuliffe said he felt the timing was right to bring the curtain down on her career.
“I imagine she’d probably go on the market after Saturday’s event,” McAuliffe told TABradio.
“If you want a successful broodmare, you can’t go racing them until the end of the earth.
“Her full brother (The Velvet King) was a successful racehorse in some of these winter races as well and I think it would be fair to call time on her career.”
The Velvet Queen will face eight rivals in the Strickland Stakes, including Let’s Galahvant, Western Empire and Marocchino who all finished in front of her in the Hyperion Stakes.
Chris Nicoll teams up with the mare again in the feature, having had his first ride on her last start.
McAuliffe said he felt the step up to 2000m would be ideal for The Velvet Queen this weekend.
“She’s been ticking a long beautifully,” he said.
“I’ve been waiting to get out to this sort of a trip.
“Getting on to a softer track is the biggest key.
“She wouldn’t let down at Ascot during the summer.”
Western Empire, who won the Belmont Sprint (1400m) last month, is expected to be a warm favourite for the Strickland Stakes.
Perth Cup winner and runner-up Casino Seventeen and Be Optimistic are also set to feature in the small but select field.
McAuliffe said it was “a matter of time” before Chollima scored valuable blacktype, as she prepares to line up over 1400m at Belmont on Saturday.
Another of McAuliffe’s stable stars Vast Art is set to trial within the next month, following a consistent campaign
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