On a day when So You Think sired four metropolitan winners across Sydney and Melbourne, his star performer was undoubtedly this three year-old filly who is definitely going places.
Trained by Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, Banana Queen is a half-sister to speedy two year-old filly Evening Star(Rubick), who won on debut at Canberra on Sunday. (Read about her here)
Banana Queen has taken a little longer to come to hand finishing a close second on debut at Kembla on November 2 when she did plenty wrong, but was still only beaten a nose.
More tractable this time around for Christian Reith, Banana Queen raced just behind the leaders and bolted to the front half way up the straight going on to win the 1400m maiden by a length and a quarter.
Sterling Alexiou was full of praise for the filly and believes longer distances will be her forte.
“She just keeps improving and can go through her classes,” he said.
“We see her as being a mile to 2000m horse. She’s a lovely moving horse with plenty of potential.”
A homebred for Arcella Thoroughbreds, Banana Queen is a three-quarter sister to Group III placed Vanuatu and is the sixth winner from six foals to race from unraced Fastnet Rock mare Tropicana Lady, a full sister to Group I winner Irish Lights, the dam of Group II winner Omei Sword and stakes-winner Lipizzaner.
Banana Queen was one of four metro winners on Wednesday for Coolmore's ever popular So You Think joining So United, Nothinsweetaboutme and Ruru.
