Golden Quest Eyes Grandest Of G1 Goodbyes

STAYING star Golden Quest is “99 percent certain to retire” after she contests the Group 1 Fanta Bale Super Stayers (730m) at The Meadows on Saturday night.

Her trainer Michelle Mallia declared this today.

Golden Quest (Fernando Bale-Quest For Glory) is just one of two grand campaigners from Michelle's kennel to take on the rich final.

FIELDS AND FORM THE MEADOWS SATURDAY

The other is Aston Velvet (Aston Kimetto-Aston Jadore) and they have drawn next to each other in the final in the five and six respectively.

“Two wonderful race bitches who are still making Group 1s in the twilight of their careers,” said Michelle.

Golden Quest is raced by Chris Perkins and he and Michelle have discussed pending retirement for the winner of 24 of her 82 starts for $163,000.

Aston Velvet is raced by Ray Borda and she has won 22 of her 67 starts for $331,000 in stakes.

“They are so honest, the pair of them,” said Michelle.

“And around the kennels they are so quiet, so laid back. I will really miss Aston Velvet when she goes to become a mum.

“They are raced by two true gentlemen and it has been fantastic for us to have been able train both bitches.”

Golden Quest has been a finalist at G1 level in the Sandown Cup, Bold Trease and now the Super Stayers.

Aston Velvet has won the G1 Hume Cup and a Listed Pink Diamond Distance, but was third in the G1 Sandown Cup and a finalist in the Rookie Rebel and now the Super Stayers.

“She had no luck in the Rookie Rebel,” said Michelle. “The red came straight out and flattened her.”

Michelle is hoping Golden Quest can ping the lids and cart Aston Velvet across the field and have the pair right into the race by the first turn.

“But, we are facing a lot of good dogs in the final.”

Michelle's opinion of Aston Velvet certainly has changed over time.

“When she first arrived here at 16 months for pre-training, I was not sure about her,” she said.

“But, I always knew she would be a stayer and since she has stepped up she has kept improving.

“She is as good now as she has ever been.”

Michelle is unsure what Ray Borda has planned for her retirement.

“Ray's theory is, the dog will tell us when they are ready to retire,” she said.

“It has always been Ray's thought that they can race on to 70 or 80 starts.”

Michelle says the difference between Golden Quest and Aston Velvet is obvious on track.

“Aston Velvet is placid, but Golden Quest does back flips when she gets onto the track.”

Fanta Bale Super Stayers (box draw): 1 Korda, 2 Ariarne Bale, 3 Golden Ratio, 4 Stagger Out Lee, 5 Golden Quest, 6 Aston Velvet, 7 Mepunga Ruby, 8 Cawbourne Magic. Res: 9. Master The Art, 10 Ritza Piper.