Group One winner back from injury

GROUP One winner Rum Junction faces an ambitious task in her racing return.

Sidelined since December, Rum Junction is set to contest Sunday’s Gold Bracelet in Maryborough.

The Aldebaran Park-sponsored event is one of several features during the famed all-trotting Redwood Classic Day.

Trained by Anthony O’Connor, Rum Junction captured the Home Grown Classic at Tabcorp Park Melton on December 21 before tragedy struck.

“She damaged the ligament in her nearside front leg between the fetlock and hoof,” O’Connor explained. “It’s an odd injury but a serious one.

“The vets didn’t give her a very good chance of racing again as it’s the kind of injury they don’t come back from is what they said at the time.

“But at this stage she is going ok and can hopefully pick up where she left off earlier in the season.”

To be driven by O’Connor’s son Xavier, Rum Junction has drawn the inside of the back row against a quality field of fillies.

The daughter of Bicardi Lyndy has been kept in betting at $14 following her recent solid trial in Melton.

Queen Of Crime sits at the head of affairs as the $2.50 favourite from barrier five.

Runner-up in the Victoria Trotters’ Oaks at her previous start, Queen Of Crime slots into gate four with the removal of the emergency.

“She trialled well in Melton the other day and ran her last quarter in 28.2 seconds, so I was pretty happy with that,” O’Connor said.

“She is as fit as she can be without racing, which is about 90 per cent, and whatever she does will improve for the run.

“She is a horse which you’ve got to drive for luck and can give a nice kick home so the draw could suit her.”