Classic on the cards for Karuta Queen

Glenn Williams spent $480,000 on 14 yearlings at the 2010 Gold Coast Magic Millions and among his buys was a $30,000 filly by Arrowfield sire Not A Single Doubt.

Williams and his wife Viive named her Karuta Queen and she has just about cut out the cost of their entire shopping list at the Gold Coast.

The unbeaten Not A Single Doubt filly has banked $274,000 and TAB Sportsbet has installed her a $3.60 favourite for the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic in month’s time.

Williams also refused a big offer to sell a half-share in Karuta Queen prior to her brilliant victory in the $200,000 Wyong Magic Millions on December 5.  “It can take a long time to find one as promising as her and we are not about to let any part of her go,” Williams said.  “Anyway, we’re having too much fun racing her on our own.”

Karuta Queen is a striking chestnut and she caught the eye when parading as part of the Turangga Stud draft.  “I really liked the look of her in the ring,” Williams recalled.  “I’m a bit of a Not A Single Doubt fan and I remembered her dam Card Queen.  She was a good mare but not quite up to top class.”

Glenn and Viive named their filly after a Google search.  “We keyed in ‘Card Queen’ and discovered that there was a Japanese play about a young girl who was taught to play cards by her grandmother.  The girl became so proficient that nobody could beat her.

“She was known as Karuta Queen promsied her grandmother that, if she was ever beaten, she would retire immediately and never play cards again.  Our filly is living up to her name as she is undefeated in three starts – but it doesn’t mean she will be retired should she ever be beaten!”

There are 12 Not A Single Doubt yearlings catalogued for the 2011 Gold Coast Magic Millions including two colts from Stuart Ramsey’s Turangga Stud.  

Ramsey sold Card Queen to Durham Lodge owner David Smith for $55,000 at the 2009 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.  

Durham has a Show a Heart half-brother to Karuta Queen catalogued for the 2011 Perth Magic Millions yearling sale.  Card Queen also foaled a filly by Durham sire Blackfriars on September 2.