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Preview: Queen Mary Stakes

3 minute read

The fastest two-year-old fillies in training assemble for the 5f Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes.

King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive on Day 1 at Royal Ascot 2023. Picture: Paddington

Jane Chapple-Hyam's Born To Rock heads the market as a debut winner at Yarmouth. She made all under Robert Tart to score by four-and-a-quarter lengths, beating Jiwin into second who subsequently finished a well-beaten fifth behind impressive Doncaster victor Carla's Way.

Karl Burke's Beautiful Diamond put in a professional performance to win on debut at Nottingham on good-to-firm ground in early June, making smooth headway two furlongs out to take up the lead and draw clear by three-and-a-half lengths. The well-regarded Ziggy's Queen finished back in third and Beautiful Diamond's effort earnt her the highest RPR (106) in the line-up.

Stablemate Got To Love A Grey was a six-length winner at Nottingham on debut and was well-fancied going into the Listed Marygate Fillies' Stakes at York. She did all the hard work in front under Sam James to score by half-a-length in front of stable-mate Dorothy Lawrence, who subsequently finished a good third behind The Fixer in the Listed Prix la Fleche. The yard won the 2022 renewal of the race with Dramatised.

Kodiac filly Relief Rally is two-from-two over five furlongs and recorded a ready success at Salisbury last time ahead of Juniper Berries. The pair re-oppose in the contest and the third-placed horse at Salisbury, Unbreak My Heart, has given the form a boost by winning at Bath on her next start.

The US are double-handed with Crimson Advocate and Cynane. George Weaver's Crimson Advocate was a good third at Keeneland on debut and improved considerably with first-time blinkers applied to win by three-and-a-half lengths at Gulfstream over 5f. Thomas Morley's Cynane sat handy on debut at Belmont Park and hit the front with a furlong to go, drawing two-and-three-quarter lengths clear at the line. She's clearly a speedy filly and has travelled over well.

Richard Fahey comes to Royal Ascot with an exciting team of juveniles and Midnight Affair is probably the best of his fillies. She failed to get a clear run in a hot maiden at Newmarket in early May and improved on her second start to win the Hilary Needler Trophy in a quick time. She unseated Danny Tudhope before the start at Beverley and drifted right in the closing stages, so may still have further improvement to come.

In a very competitive race, Got To Love A Grey's Listed victory is the best form on offer for last year's winning yard. Richard Fahey's Midnight Affair has room for further progression on her third career start and the trainer boasts a 24% strike rate with his two-year-olds on turf this season.

WIN: GOT TO LOVE A GREY

PLACE: MIDNIGHT AFFAIR