Filly Dixie Strike, trained by champion conditioner Mark Casse and owned by John Oxley, was today installed as the 4-1 favourite for the 153rd edition of the Queen’s Plate, following in the footsteps of her half-sister, 2011 Queen’s Plate heroine, Inglorious.
Last year, Inglorious, who also captured the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks, presented by Budweiser, rallied impressively through the stretch to earn the winner’s share of the $1 million purse. The Josie Carroll trainee was also a 4-1 favourite in the Winterbook.
Inglorious, out of the Sovereign Award-nominated broodmare Noble Strike, became the first filly to win the Queen’s Plate since Dancethruthedawn in 2001, and just the sixth filly to win the race since 1956.