Queen Mary Stakes (5f, Wednesday, June 16, 2.30pm)
Royal Ascot is the biggest week in the British flat racing calendar. Alongside a plethora of Group 1s, racing fans are treated to some of the most competitive handicaps of the year, and some cracking juvenile contests that unearth future stars. In anticipation of this year’s meeting, Daryl Carter is providing his expert analysis and ante-post betting selections for all of the big Royal Ascot races. Here, Daryl provides his thoughts on the Queen Mary Stakes – one of the highlights on Day 2 of Royal Ascot.
Nymphadora
She scored on her second start at york, landing the Listed race over 5f, but the suspicion is she would be better suited to the Albany over 6f with her best work coming at the finish on that occasion. A few in behind her were unfortunate, so while the current pool of horses for this race is small, I am happy to leave her alone.
Twilight Gleaming
US raider – Wesley Ward trained and just the one run at Belmont Park when scooting away at 13/20f to win by 7 1/2 lengths. I can’t get a handle on what the form is worth, and it’s not uncommon in the US for two-year-olds to be winning a race by this distance, so best left alone for now.
Yet
Won a 5f maiden at Dundalk by a neck for Aidan O’Brien and showed a great attitude to deny a stablemate with the pair seven lengths clear of the remainder. The form behind the two hasn’t worked out, and the race was slower than the 72 rated winner on the card by a full second. Probably not a leading light for the stable.
Beautiful Sunshine
Trainer George Boughey has had plenty of success with his two-year-olds this season, and this one has improved with each start and scored impressively under a penalty at Sandown when last seen. That takes her 2/3, and she was only a shade behind Nymphadora on debut when a heavily supported favourite. Attractive outside the powerhouse stables.
Thunder Love
Another George Boughey trained filly, 2/2 at Kempton on the all-weather, has arguably been the most impressive of his stable this term. She scored in excellent style on her latest start, easily shrugging off a penalty. She looks exciting and clocked a good time figure.
Desert Dreamer
Had both Beautiful Sunshine and Nymphadora in behind on debut and took her record to 2/2 when winning from an unpromising position over 6f at Newmarket despite over racing and being extremely keen latest. She showed an excellent attitude and hit the line very strongly after having to weave a passage. That performance marked her down as a top-class filly and will be worth following whichever race she goes for!
Conclusion
I was hoping that Canonized would have an entry here, but she is not on the ante-post list but keep an eye out for her; she could be very smart. Undoubtedly the horse I want to side with at the moment is DESERT DREAMER, and she can be backed for this race at 20/1. I’d also advise backing her for the Albany; she looks pretty special to my eye.