Royal Ascot

Elletelle Lands Queen Mary Stakes
20/06/07

1st (4) Elletelle 20/1
2nd (17) Starlit Sands 4/1
3rd (19) The Loan Express 66/1

A gutsy performance from 20/1 shot Elletelle saw the Ger Lyons-trained filly record a half-length victory over 4/1 favourite Starlit Sands. The scene in the winner’s enclosure was not unlike that seen at Cheltenham as as the owners, the Jesse Club Syndicate, celebrated their success.

Elletelle’s trainer Ger Lyons was not present, leaving his brother Shane to travel with the filly.

Shane Lyons said: “Our horses have run well all season and we have done very well with our runners in England this season. Why fix what isn’t broke?

“I knew from the moment she came out of the stalls that she would go close.

“She is very tough. Last time out at Leopardstown she stumbled early on and then really had to battle to win. I think that changed her from a girl to a lady.

“The best we had won before today was a Group Three so it’s great to win a Group Two. We came here today really in the hope we would get some black type.

“We had one runner last year so now have one winner from two runners at Royal Ascot! It’s great for the owners, the Jesse Club Syndicate who come from Ennis, Co Clare.

“We will always travel to find the right races as there are not enough suitable races in Ireland. I think Ger will be shocked and laid out on the couch at home!

Johnny Murtagh added: “She was always travelling like a winner.

“She should have no problems getting six furlongs and maybe she could go to York.

“She is very tough and Ger always liked her from day one.”

SANDS FINISHES HALF LENGTH FROM GROUP 2 SUCCESS

Trainer Sir Mark Prescott was philosophical after Kirsten Rausing’s home-bred Starlit Sands was beaten half a length into second in the G2 Queen Mary Stakes.

“She ran a great race but you’re always disappointed to get beaten,” said Prescott. “The jockey on the winner always thought he’d get there and I think the other filly just outstayed us - I wish they’d run this at Catterick or Brighton!”

The Loan Express belied her 66/1 starting price to finish an excellent third, gaining valuable black type in the process.

“She was second to Warsaw and then a bit unlucky at Naas last time when she got knocked about and probably should have been second or third, we were always playing catch up,” said trainer Tommy Stack’s son Fozzie.

“She will always have a value now and I’m not sure where we’ll go. We might try her over six at some stage and perhaps we could go for the Lowther.”

Jeremy Noseda, trainer of fourth-placed Francesca D’Gorgio, said: “I’m delighted with that - that was a little more like it.

“We will get her home and take a view as to whether we go back to maiden company or be bold and head to the Cherry Hinton. She wants six furlongs.”

4.55pm QUEEN MARY STAKES (GROUP TWO)
£70,000 guaranteed, 5f, For 2yo fillies Weights 8st 12lb Entries 28 pay £310 Penalty value 1st £39,746; 2nd £15,064; 3rd £7,539; 4th£3,759; 5th £1,883; 6th £945

1 ELLETELLE (IRE) (Jesse Club Syndicate) Ger Lyons IRE 2-8-12 Johnny Murtagh [13] 20/1
2 STARLIT SANDS (Kirsten Rausing) Sir Mark Prescott 2-8-12 Seb Sanders [14] 4/1f
3 THE LOAN EXPRESS (IRE) (C2-Financial Group Partbership) Tommy Stack IRE 2-8-12 Wayne Lordan [18] 66/1
4 FRANCESCA D'GORGIO (USA) (Sir Robert Ogden) Jeremy Noseda 2-8-12 Frankie Dettori [7]
5 CAKE (IRE) (Simon Leech & Des Anderson) Richard Hannon 2-8-12 Ryan Moore [20]
6 LITTLEMISSSUNSHINE (IRE) (Albert Conneally) Stan Moore 2-8-12 John Egan [12]
7 LADY AVENGER (Jeff Smith) James Eustace 2-8-12 Kerrin McEvoy [1]
8 FANATICAL (C Murfitt) Ed Vaughan 2-8-12 Dane O'Neill [16]
9 TUSCAN EVENING (IRE) (John Murphy) John Murphy IRE 2-8-12 Danny Grant [8]
10 TIA MIA (Dachel Stud) James Given 2-8-12 Jamie Spencer [17]
11 POLAR CIRCLE (USA) (Sangster Family) Peter Chapple-Hyam 2-8-12 Michael Kinane [15]
12 BASTAKIYA (IRE) (HRH Princess Haya of Jordan) John Gosden 2-8-12 Jimmy Fortune [19]
13 PERFECT PAULA (USA) (Gold Group International) Brian Meehan 2-8-12 Steve Drowne [21]
14 REGAL STEP (Highclere Thoroughbred Racing I) Robert Cowell 2-8-12 Eddie Ahern [3]
15 MONAAZALAH (IRE) (Hamdan Al Maktoum) Barry Hills 2-8-12 Richard Hills [10]
16 KYLAYNE (Jan Harris) Paul D'Arcy 2-8-12 Darryll Holland [6]
17 EVENSTORM (USA) (Brian Gubby) Brian Gubby 2-8-12 Jim Crowley [11]
18 PIECE OF MY HEART (Mr & Mrs Christopher Wright) Paul Cole 2-8-12 Richard Quinn [4]
19 SWEEPSTAKE (IRE) (B Bull) Richard Hannon 2-8-12 Richard Hughes [9]
20 L'ORAGE (Thomas Gilligan) John Ryan 2-8-12 Brett Doyle [2]
21 CRISTAL CLEAR (IRE) (Jennifer Pallister) Tim Easterby 2-8-12 David Allan [5]

21 ran
Distances: 1/2, sh, 1/2, sh, 1/2, 1, hd, sh, hd, 1 1/4, 1, sh, 1, 3/4, 2 1/2, 1 3/4, 3 1/2, 1/2, 3/4, 1 1/4
Time: 1m 00.64s
Breeding: b f Elnadim (USA) - Flamanda (Niniski (USA))
Breeder: Timothy Gleeson & Ashley O’Leary
Totes: Win: £25.30 Places: £6.50; £2.50; £20.50 Exacta: £157.40

Winning trainer:-Name: Lyons, Ger Born: August 18, 1965 Background: former jump jockey who has been training since 1994 Based: Glenburnie Stables, Dunsany, County Meath First Pattern Race Win: An Tadh, Group Three Ballycorus Stakes, June 14, 2006 Big Race Wins: Ballycorus Stakes (2006 An Tadh); Blackthorn (2002 Berhamo); EBF Premier Nursery (Derrinstown Stud EBF Birdcatcher Premier Nursery (2002 Roisin’s Star); Powers Gold Cup (2002 Big And Bold); Rochestown Stakes (2002 Akanti); Ulster Derby (2004 Green Lassy) Flat Wins in Ireland (2001-2006): 7; 15; 18; 16; 26; 32 Royal Ascot Winners: (1) Queen Mary Stakes (2007 Elletelle) First Royal Ascot Winner: Elletelle, Queen Mary Stakes, 2007 Wins in Britain in 2007: 3

Winning jockey:-Name: Murtagh, John Patrick Based: Moattown, Kildalkey, Co Meath and Newmarket Born: May 14, 1970 First Winner: Chicago Style, Limerick, July 6, 1987 British Classic Wins (4): Vodafone Derby (2000 Sinndar, 2002 High Chaparral, 2005 Motivator), 2000 Guineas (2002 Rock Of Gibraltar) Big Race Wins include: Ascot Gold Cup (1999 Enzeli, 2001 & 2002 Royal Rebel); Beverly D Stakes (1996 Timarida), Breeders’ Cup Mile (1995 Ridgewood Pearl), Coronation Stakes (1995 Ridgewood Pearl), Darley July Cup (2004 Frizzante), Dubai Champion Stakes (2000 Kalanisi), Falmouth Stakes (2004 & 2005 Soviet Song), Grosser Dallmayr-Preis (2000 Greek Dance), Irish Oaks (1997 Ebadiyla, 1998 Winona, 2000 Petrushka), Irish Champion Stakes (1996 Timarida), Irish 2,000 Guineas (2001 Black Minnaloushe), Irish Derby (2000 Sinndar, 2003 Alamshar), King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (2003 Alamshar), Moyglare Stud Stakes (1998 Edabiya), National Stakes (1993 Manntari, 1999 Sinndar), Prix de l’Abbaye (2000 Namid), Prix de l’Opera (1995 Timarida, 2000 Petrushka), Prix Niel (2000 Sinndar), Prix du Moulin (1995 Ridgewood Pearl), Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2000 Sinndar), Racing Post Trophy (2000 Dilshaan), Sussex Stakes (2004 Soviet Song), Tattersalls Gold Cup (2007 Notnowcato), Yorkshire Oaks (1996 Key Change, 2000 Petrushka); Diadem Stakes (1998 Bianconi, 2001 Nice One Clare, 2005 Baron’s Pit) Other details: Champion Irish apprentice in 1989, champion jockey in Ireland 1995 and 1998, has also been champion in Dubai Wins in Britain 1999-2006: 9; 17; 10; 15; 12; 77; 48; 0 Wins in Britain 2007: 2 Royal Ascot wins: (20) Coronation Stakes (June 21, 1995, Ridgewood Pearl); Gold Cup (June 17, 1999, Enzeli, June 21, 2001 Royal Rebel, June 20, 2002, Royal Rebel), St James’s Palace Stakes (June 19, 2001, Black Minnaloushe), Duke of Edinburgh Stakes (June 20, 2000, Katiykha), Ascot Handicap Stakes (June 21, 2000, Barba Papa), Golden Jubilee (June 22, 2000, Superior Premium, 2003 Choisir), King George V Handicap (June 21, 2001, B eekeeper), Ribblesdale Stakes (June 21, 2001, Sahara Slew), Wokingham Handicap (June 22, 2001 Nice One Clare), Queen Anne Stakes (June 18, 2002 No Excuse Needed), King Edward VII Stakes (June 21, 2002, Balakheri), Windsor Castle Stakes (June 21, 2002, Revenue), King’s Stand Stakes (June 17, 2003, Choisir), Hampton Court Stakes (June 19, 2003, Persian Majesty), Jersey Stakes (June 15, 2005, Proclamation), Queen Alexandra Stakes (June 18, 2005, Cruzspiel), Queen Mary Stakes (2007 Elletelle) Leading Rider at Royal Ascot: 2001 (5 wins); 2002 (4 wins)