Queen Mary Stakes
Group 2, Ascot 15:05 £100,000 added, 2yo only, 5f, Class 1
Wednesday 18th June 2014

1 Anthem Alexander 9/4F
2 Tiggy Wiggy 7/2
3 Newsletter 33/1
NR: Free Entry (IRE)
21 ran Distances: nk, ½l, 1¾l
TIME 59.15s (fast by 0.35s)

The Irish are on a roll as Anthem Alexander takes The Queen Mary Stakes for trainer Eddie Lynam.

Anthem Alexander
© Caroline Norris

Anthem Alexander, a filly who failed to sell when offered at public auction last year, proved best in today's 21-runner Queen Mary Stakes.

Led out unsold when bidding halted at 48,000gns, Anthem Alexander's breeder, Noel O'Callaghan, had little choice but to put her in training with Eddie Lynam, but it led to a right Royal Ascot result.

Asked why he thought the big, good-looking daughter of Starspangledbanner had failed to find a new home, O'Callaghan said: "Maybe I was looking for too much money [the reserve he placed on her before her ring appearance]. Winning here is special with a home-bred filly, and she has two yearling half-sisters at home - a yearling by Dream Ahead and a foal by Acclamation.

"To be fair to Eddie Lynam, after two months, he was always exceptionally positive about this filly - he thinks that she is very good. He can certainly train sprinters, so it's hopefully onwards and upwards.

"The first day she ran at the Curragh, it was purely educational, and Eddie was very confident on the second day at Tipperary, when she won by nearly eight or nine lengths. She didn't win by eight or nine lengths today, but at least she won.

"The faster the ground, the better for her. Her dam wanted fast ground and her grand-dam only wanted fast ground, so the faster, the better. Hopefully, if we get some more dry weather, she will be out again.

"It's my first Royal Ascot winner - I have had plenty of runners but no winners. It's hard to win here and, when you win here, you have got to appreciate it and enjoy it."

Lynam said: "Natural ability has got her home in front today. She's got the right constitution, is a big strong mare and she travelled over well from Ireland. She's very well bred - we'll certainly enjoy her.

"Pat [Smullen] sat on her in May and was quite bullish about her and it's all worked out. Interestingly, she's by the sire [Starspangledbanner] that we beat in the Nunthorpe with Sole Power [who won yesterday's King's Stand Stakes for the second year running].

"She's the real deal and she will get better. Noel O'Callaghan was very kind in giving her to me and he was very brave because everyone was trying to buy her off him. I am delighted for him because, when you refuse money for a horse, you need a bit of luck."

Lynam is noted as a trainer of sprinters - witness Sole Power and Slade Power - and he joked: "I'll keep her to five or six furlongs - after all I can only train sprinters. I should think the Cherry Hinton Stakes [at Newmarket next month] will be next."

Sole Power holds an entry for Saturday's Group One Diamond Jubilee Stakes alongside Slade Power, but Lynam said: "He's fine after yesterday and ate up, but it would be greedy to ask him to run again. He's a bit tired."

Queen Mary Stakes
£100,000 added, 2yo only, 5f, Class 3
21 ran
Going: Good to firm