Sunday, 19 August 2012: Queanbeyan trainer Neville Layt is looking forward to Monday on two fronts – the return of his brilliant mare Karuta Queen to his stable and a trip to Goulburn with stablemate Our Brightest Star.
 | Karuta Queen
Photo by Racing and Sports | |
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Karuta Queen, winner of six from 15 starts including the 2010 Magic Millions and $1.75 million prizemoney, goes back into training for a late spring campaign.
The four-year-old mare was offered for salew at the Gold Coast in May but did not reach her reserve price and has been retained by her owners Glen and Viva Williams.
They decided she should go back into work with Layt for another campaign with time to decide if she should be served by a leading stallion this spring.
Karuta Queen 
remains one of the fastest short course sprinters in Australia and Layt is confident she regain the form that made her a star as a two and three-year-old.
Glen and Viva Williams also own Our Brightest Star, a lightly raced four-year-old mare by Snitzel who will be racing at Goulburn on Monday.
“It should be a big day,” Layt said.
“Karuta Queen comes back from her spell and I think Our Brightest Star can win at Goulburn.”
Purchased for $20,000 as a yearling in Scone, Our Brightest Star has two wins and five placings from 11 starts.
“She’s a good mare with a lovely nature who has been a good little money earner,” Layt said.
“She’s a great little worker and has done a treat since her last start. She’s thriving.”
Our Brightest Star resumed from a 137-day spell to finish a half neck second to Cool Maverick over 1200m at Goulburn on August 7.
“We just ran into one that was a little fitter on the day,” Layt said.
Last preparation Our Brightest Star finished a close fourth to She Goes To Rio in the Listed Canberra Guineas (1400m).
“Everyone that has ridden her suggests she’s a Saturday Sydney horse but I want to take her through her grades in the bush before we step up to the big time," Layt said.
