Harness racing: Trainer Brent Lilley confident Queen Elida can seize her chance in the Inter Dominion

Queen Elida has her best shot at claiming the Inter Dominion in her third tilt with the absence of a superstar trotter.

Queen Elida storms to victory in the first qualifying round of the 2024 Inter Dominion at Newcastle. Picture: HRNSW

Victorian trainer Brent Lilley knows this is Queen Elida’s moment.

The mighty mare has won 35 races and is nearing $1m in earnings, but this third tilt at an Inter Dominion could be her greatest moment yet.

Queen Elida has finished third in the past two finals – Melton in 2022 and Albion Park last year – behind champion trotter Just Believe.

“It’s her best chance (in an Inter Dominion) yet,” trainer Brent Lilley said.

“Not having Just Believe to contend is huge for us, and everyone else. He’s just been too good for us, time and time again.

“And I feel like this is the best we’ve had her as far as her fitness and maturity.

“In her first series she was great, but still only a four-year-old and she ran great in a final that really showed Just Believe’s greatness for the first time.”

Lilley then took his stable star to last year’s Brisbane series, hopeful of bridging the gap or maybe even turning the tables on Just Believe, but things soured quickly.

“She jarred up quite badly in the first round of heats up there. The surface was loose on top, but hard underneath and it really got to her,” he said.

“She improved as the series went on, but she was just never 100 per cent up there.”

Trainer Brent Lilley and driver Chris Alford with Queen Elida. Picture: HRNSW,

Lilley feared this year’s Inter Dominion tilt was in strife when Queen Elida travelled badly to a race at Maryborough in late October, pulled a shoe and had some hoof issues.

“Her feet have certainly given us some troubles along the way, but thankfully she got over the Maryborough thing quite quickly,” he said.

“We really felt we had her spot on going into Newcastle last Friday night, so it didn’t surprise us when she won so easily. Chris (Alford, driver) said she felt as good as she ever has.”

Crucially, Queen Elida has drawn well again (gate four) in the second round sprint heats at Bathurst on Wednesday night.

“Beauty. Hopefully she’ll jump on the bunny and win again,” Lilley said.

“She’s come through that first win really well and hopefully it’s a hassle-free series with her this year.

“We thought she was one of the very top hopes in the series going into it and that’s how it’s looking.”

In the pacing series, young gun Victorian driver James Herbertson has jetted straight back from a short driving stint in France to join the Inter Dominion.

Herbertson, who is enjoying a breakthrough season with 344 wins and a lead of more than 80 in the national premiership, will take the reins on leading Victorian pacing contender Mach Dan.

The Geelong-owned speedster finished a close-up fourth on night one and is $3.80 favourite to press his case for a final berth with victory over the short 1730m trip at Bathurst.

* Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp

Originally published as Harness racing: Trainer Brent Lilley confident Queen Elida can seize her chance in the Inter Dominion