14:30 Ascot
Good To FirmQueen Mary Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies)
- First Prize: £99242.5
- 0m 5f 0y
- Class 1
- 27 runners
ITV
Runners: 27 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Mostly cloudy
Form: 1 D
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Filly
240,000gns breeze-up 2yo who's bred to be sharp, out of a 2yo 5f winner and a half-sister to two 2yo winners; she duly travelled strongly throughout at Lingfield (good to firm; 5-4 favourite) at the end of last month and bounded clear in a smart time to collect by a shade over 4l; rejected by James Doyle who favours Wild Blossom but it was probably a close call.
Form: 12 D
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Filly
Both runs on good ground; looks a bargain at 4,000euros, after making a winning debut at Goodwood and doing well to go down by only a head to Love A Giggle in York's Listed Marygate Stakes having raced closer to the strong pace than the winner; while it wouldn't be a surprise should she reverse those placings, there are lots of others to worry about.
Form: 321 D
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Filly
Favourite for all her races and off the mark with a narrow verdict in a York novice last Friday (5f, good), beating a newcomer with the pair clear; that's not the preparation for a typical Queen Mary winner and it's unlikely that she'll be good enough anyway; cheekpieces enlisted.
Form: 31 CD
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Filly
Third to Magic Effort at Newmarket before winning by 4l over C&D (good) in early May; having course experience will come in handy but she has bundles to find on the figures, probably too much.
OUR TIP
Form: 21 D
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Filly
Blinkered for both runs; beaten first time out (odds-on favourite) but took the rise in class in her stride when flooring one of Wesley Ward's (debut winner) over 5f on firm ground in the Royal Palm at Gulfstream in early May, with the pair dominant; her trainer, who had the third in this 12 months ago (who also won the Royal Palm, as did compatriot Crimson Advocate who took this three years ago), describes her as a "big, strong filly"; intriguing on a few counts.
Form: 32 BF
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Filly
550,000gns yearling whose siblings include July Cup winner Mill Stream; very likeable debut effort on good to firm at Newmarket, but couldn't hold a candle to Wild Blossom at Carlisle and it's rare for a maiden to win this.
Form: 21 D
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Filly
Both runs on good to firm; second to a smart colt on Ayr debut and showed the benefit of that experience when nicely on top in Beverley's Hilary Needler; further progress is a distinct possibility.
Form: 1 D
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Filly
French raider who prevailed by a length on very soft ground at Chantilly a month ago, but faces very different conditions here and the horse she beat has since come up short at Listed level; on the plus side, her hugely respected trainer wouldn't be bringing her over for the fun of it.
Form: 41 D
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Filly
Didn't look a Queen Mary candidate when only fourth at Thirsk and it was a winnable race that she took in first-time blinkers at Windsor (good to firm) since; that form is none too convincing heading into an assignment of this magnitude.
Form: 32
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Filly
Both runs on good; has ground to make up on Pershaada and Kentucky Rain whom she trailed at Goodwood on debut and she probably has her work cut out to reverse Nottingham placings with Senorita Bonita, having dictated matters up front that day.
Form: 51 D
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Filly
Favourite when fifth behind Magic Effort on debut and left that form behind to make all for a comfortable win at Yarmouth (good); it's hard to believe a repeat of that will suffice at this level, for all that it was encouraging to see the second score readily next time.
Form: 2
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Filly
25-1 at Goodwood (good) but defied those odds with a hugely promising run behind the more experienced Pershaada, as this filly found a good bit of bother in running and might otherwise have beaten the winner who clocked a good time; with that know-how under her belt and granted a clear run at it this afternoon, she could be a lively one; bought by Amo Racing for £380,000 at the Goffs London Sale on Monday.
Form: 11 D
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Filly
First foal of a 5f 2yo winner; one of two runners for Karl Burke who knows what's required for this; followed up her debut success on the AW with a last-gasp win from Armor Supreme off a strong pace in the Listed Marygate at York (good; held up); looks sure to face a similar scenario here, and having the benefit of two races might give her an edge over some.
Form: 113 D
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Filly
Relinquished her unbeaten record behind Love A Giggle in the Marygate at York (good) but racing close to a fierce pace appeared to soften her up in the finish and she might be better than that.
Form: 14 D
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Filly
Both runs on good ground; had some of these behind when winning at Newmarket's Craven meeting and perhaps it is best to turn a blind eye to Goodwood fourth in the novice won by Pershaada as she got restless in the stalls; she still rates an unlikely winner.
Form: 7415
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Filly
Tongue tied for her last three races; AW winner who ran her best race when beaten only 2l in a French Listed race 17 days ago (good), having been held up well off the pace; has further races in her but this is unlikely to be one of them.
Form: 1
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Filly
US challenger; accepted a lead before quickening away to a 6.5l defeat of subsequent winner Shining Moment at Keeneland (5.5f, firm) in April and there was an even wider margin back to the third; it's hard not to be impressed by that performance and her trainer seems confident of a bold show; makes the shortlist.
Form: 19 D
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Filly
Won well at Thirsk where she raced prominently and she was slow to break in the Marygate at York (good ground) after getting restless in the stalls; probably making up the numbers, however.
Form: 321 D
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Filly
Beaten favourite in AW contests won by Lover Girl and Love A Giggle; improved to win cosily in a respected time at Goodwood (good) but runner-up Kentucky Rain looked unlucky, and this filly may lack the same star potential as some in here.
Form: 153 D
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Filly
Easily made all on Beverley debut (good to soft) and went off too hard for her own good when fading into midfield in the Marygate at York (3-1); ridden differently in a Listed race at Sandown (good) and looked threatening until flattening out late on; career best is needed and by some margin.
Form: 1
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Filly
Clockwatchers were drooling after she won stylishly by 7l in blinkers on dirt (officially sloppy) over 4.5f at Keeneland in April and she's reportedly worked as impressively on grass; possesses the trademark early speed associated with Wesley Ward's Royal Ascot runners and, as a largely unknown quantity, she has to be of major interest; trainer has won this four times.
Form: 1 D
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Filly
Cost a whopping 900,000gns at the breeze-ups; by Royal Ascot winner Starspangledbanner; all the rage in the betting at Nottingham (good; 10-11 favourite) and got the job done, though left it late to produce a telling late kick from well off the pace to deny Fast Track; open to copious amounts of improvement and she's bred to be suited by this quicker surface; stable has had success with 2yos at this meeting.
Form: 1 D
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Filly
Only 3-1 at Salisbury (good) and she won by a length after leading a furlong out; the second was clear of the remainder but she's now 0-4; could be favourably boxed in 25 but may need more than just a good draw.
Form: 21 D
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Filly
Her sire is Golden Pal who was second in the Norfolk at this meeting; this filly has 6.5l to find with More Champagne on their Keeneland clash but it was no-nonsense stuff when off the mark next time at Churchill Downs (5f, firm); the fact Wesley Ward has brought her over heightens interest, as does the booking of Oisin Murphy, though her trainer does appear sweeter on the chances of Ruiva; wore blinkers for both her races.
Form: 114 D
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Filly
Made it 2-2 in a small-field Listed race at the Curragh (5f, good) before appearing to be stretched by the extra furlong when behind Victorious at Naas (Group 3); back over the minimum trip and, with her trainer always respected on his British forays, she could have some role to play.
Form: 11
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Filly
Both wins at Naas over 6f on good ground, the latest a Group 3 with a tradition of delivering Royal Ascot winners; that was no more than workmanlike and dropping back a furlong is a nagging concern when she's bred to stay much further; however, 2yos from this yard are notorious for improving with experience and their first Queen Mary winner last year was beaten in her first two races; commands respect for a whole host of reasons.
Form: 1 D
OR: —
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 2 yo Filly
Recruited at the breeze-ups for 300,000gns; faced only three rivals at Carlisle (good; 15-8) but hammered Crownbreaker by 10l and is held in high regard by her trainer who has won two of the last four Queen Marys with once-raced fillies; James Doyle prefers her over fellow debut winner Alta Regina; possible negatives are that the time of her debut win didn't blow your socks off and her sire Mehmas has a poor record at this meeting.
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Betting Forecast
10/1 Alta Regina, 25/1 Armor Supreme, 50/1 Big Negotiator, 20/1 Bint Archange, 20/1 Celtic Dispute, 66/1 Crownbreaker, 20/1 Crystal Queen, 12/1 Drazinda, 40/1 Envision, 50/1 Fast Track, 33/1 Havana Lightning, 66/1 Kentucky Rain, 14/1 Love A Giggle, 40/1 Lover Girl, 100/1 Magic Effort, 66/1 Miss Lizzy, 12/1 More Champagne, 100/1 Niewiadoma, 50/1 Pershaada, 50/1 Princesse DOrange, 12/1 Ruiva, 9/2 Senorita Bonita, 25/1 Shimmering Sun, 20/1 Shining Moment, 22/1 Velozee, 5/1 Victorious, 13/2 Wild Blossom
Non-runners
Your Song
Verdict
Being drawn middle to high has provided a significant edge in the last decade, with only one winner exiting a single-figure stall. This smacks of a strong renewal when several sets of connections have made bullish predictions, including the US contingent represented by Ruiva, Shining Moment, More Champagne and CELTIC DISPUTE, all of whom have chances. The selection, a big filly with scope and whose sire Leinster was a high-class sprinter who excelled on good and quicker ground, impressed at Gulfstream in the Royal Palm Stakes, which the stable’s Lennilu won en route to finishing third in this last year. Aidan O’Brien finally won a Queen Mary 12 months ago and his Victorious has to be feared when debut winners from this yard typically progress to high honours, and she’s already won a Group race, while Wild Blossom, Alta Regina and Senorita Bonita are once-raced winners who fall into the “could be anything” category. At greater odds, Kentucky Rain might be a dark one.[Alistair Jones]