Queen Mary Stakes
Group 2, Ascot 14:30 £150,000 guaranteed, 2yo only, 5f, Class 1
Tweet Wednesday 19th June 2024

1 Leovanni 22/1
2 Mighty Eriu 50/1
3 Maw Lam 50/1
24 ran NR: Glorious Kitty, Kuwaitya
Distances: 1¾l, nk, nk Time: 59.60s (slow by 0.20s)

A win for Wathnan Racing as LEOVANNI (Kodi Bear) takes the G2 Queen Mary Stakes at #RoyalAscot! 👑 @Ascot @karl_burke @the_doyler @RathbarryStud pic.twitter.com/1aB8M91PP0

— TDN (@theTDN) June 19, 2024

Ridden by James Doyle, Leovanni broke smartly from stall 10 and raced prominently among a group of horses on the far side before drawing clear to win by a length and three quarters. 

Mighty Eriu finished strongly up the stands’ rail to take second, while Maw Lam, who made a slow start, came through for third, a further neck behind. The heavily backed 7/2 favourite Kassaya was left looking for a gap on the stands’ side and eventually finished twelfth.

For winning trainer Karl Burke this was a welcome change of fortune after his strongly fancied Andesite was withdrawn yesterday morning before the G2 Coventry Stakes. 

The Emir of Qatar’s bloodstock advisor Richard Brown bought the winning filly for £190,000 in April at Goffs Breeze-Up Sale in Doncaster and she made a winning debut for Burke at Nottingham a fortnight ago.

Burke said: “I watched it live, so I would love to see a replay of it. From watching it live, it looked very smooth. James said that Leovanni travelled beautifully. 

“She’s got a fantastic mind, this filly. Not just for a two-year-old – for a breeze-up two-year-old she’s unbelievable. So relaxed and that’s all credit going forward – that will be a great help to her. I am sure she’ll stay six furlongs.

Reflecting on this being a significant win for Wathnan Racing, he added: “For sure. I know Richard Brown and the team – they have done fantastically well. I know they’ve paid a lot of money, but that just adds more pressure. So to get one result is great, and hopefully this is not the last of the meeting.”

Doyle said: “I think anytime you get a winner early on in the week, in any normal year, it’s quite nice. But especially to do it this year. We know there’s a lot of work that’s been put in behind the scenes at Wathnan Racing to get a select group of horses that are targeted for this meeting, so the pressure is on to perform. To get a winner early on in the week can only help.

"I was pleased with Leovanni on debut – she won like a potentially smart filly but it's so hard to tell. Look at yesterday, I had the choice of three in the Coventry Stakes and the one I picked finished out the back, whereas the other two just got beat. It's very difficult to make choices, thankfully I didn't have to choose between two in this race!

"I won this race before on a filly called Rizeena for Clive Britain [in 2013] and I would say this filly has all the class that she had. The raw speed, the ability to relax, the temperament, being versatile with the ground. There is a lot to look forward to with her."

Mighty Eriu’s trainer Gavin Cromwell said: “That was a great run and we certainly can’t complain. We needed to wait a while for the gap to open; she went through it well and she won her race on her side. She probably got a little bit lonely in front of her bunch, but it was a lovely run and I’m delighted. The winner won well, too, and I wouldn’t take anything away from her. Mighty Eriu will keep improving. Trip-wise, I think five or six would be fine for her. She’s got a great attitude and great mind to her.”

Adrian Nicholls said of Maw Lam: “I am delighted. She was very unlucky the last day [finished second in the Hilary Needler on 8th June]. I don’t have the firepower that a lot of teams here have; coming down here, she’s my only runner, so you’re coming with hope. They went fast, Hollie said, and she finished strong, so to get black type in the Queen Mary is brilliant. We’ll see what the team want to do – hopefully go for a Listed race, then onwards to better things, hopefully.

“Maw Lam is very, very relaxed. She likes the attention. She was asleep 20 minutes before the girls went to put the bridle on her, which stands her in good stead, so hopefully now maybe France, or there’s a race in Ireland. For us with 20 horses, it’s very exciting to have something that can represent us at these big meetings.”

Queen Mary Stakes
£150,000 guaranteed, 2yo only, 5f, Class 3
24 ran
Going: Good to Firm

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (10)    Leovanni 2 9-2 K R Burke James Doyle 22/1
2 (24) 1¾ Mighty Eriu 2 9-2 Gavin Cromwell Gary Carroll 50/1
3 (4) nk Maw Lam 2 9-2 Adrian Nicholls Hollie Doyle 50/1
16 (13) nk Miss Lamai 2 9-2 K R Burke Clifford Lee 22/1
17 (5) 1½ Miss Rascal 2 9-2 Paul & Oliver Cole Tom Marquand 8/1
26 (11) ¾ Xanthe 2 9-2 Richard Hannon Pat Dobbs 22/1
18 (14) ½ Oxford Rock 2 9-2 Joseph O'Brien Dylan Browne McMonagle 66/1
3 (15) nk Betty Clover 2 9-2 Eve Johnson Houghton Georgia Dobie 20/1
2 (22) ½ Amestris 2 9-2 Michael Bell Kevin Stott 14/1
6 (26) nk Flash The Cash 2 9-2 Mrs John Harrington Shane Foley 50/1
1 (20) ½ Adrestia 2 9-2 Simon & Ed Crisford Callum Shepherd 50/1
9 (21) nk Kassaya 2 9-2 Andrew Balding Oisin Murphy 7/2F
23 (9) nse Truly Enchanting 2 9-2 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore 13/2
5 (1) ¾ Englemere 2 9-2 George Boughey Billy Loughnane 22/1
20 (12) nse Sands Of Havana 2 9-2 Ollie Sangster Trevor Whelan 150/1
21 (2) nk Seraphim Angel 2 9-2 Tom Dascombe Pierre-Louis Jamin 80/1
4 (25) nk Enchanting Empress 2 9-2 Raphael E Freire David Egan 14/1
19 (6) 1½ Ruby's Profit 2 9-2 Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole Kieran Shoemark 150/1
10 (16) shd Kiss Me My Love 2 9-2 Charlie Johnston Joe Fanning 200/1
24 (17) shd Ultima Grace 2 9-2 Wesley A Ward Joel Rosario 12/1
22 (23) nse Spherical 2 9-2 Roger Varian William Buick 12/1
25 (7) 5½ Where's Clare 2 9-2 Charlie Johnston Jason Hart 50/1
13 (18) 1¾ Make Haste 2 9-2 Diego Dias Gavin Ryan 10/1
7 (3) 5 Flicka's Girl 2 9-2 David Loughnane Rossa Ryan 100/1
NR 11 (8) Kuwaitya 2 9-2 Alice Haynes NON RUNNER
NR 8 (19) Glorious Kitty 2 9-2 Michael & David Easterby NON RUNNER

QUEEN MARY STAKES WINNERS

YR/DATE GR WINNER TRAINER JOCKEY OWNER AGE/WGT SP

2023 2 CRIMSON ADVOCATE George Weaver John R Velazquez 2 9-02 9/1
2022 2 DRAMATISED K R Burke Daniel Tudhope Clipper Logistics 2 9-02 5/2F
2021 2 QUICK SUZY Gavin Cromwell Gary Carroll Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners 2 9-00 8/1
2020 2 CAMPANELLE Wesley Ward USA Frankie Dettori Stonestreet Stables LLC 2-9-00 9/2
2019 2 RAFFLE PRIZE Mark Johnston Frankie Dettori Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum 2-9-00 18/1
2018 2 SIGNORA CABELLO John Quinn Oisin Murphy Phoenix Thoroughbreds & Zen Racing 2-9-00 25/1
2017 2 HEARTACHE Clive Cox Adam Kirby The Hot To Trot Syndicate 2-9-00 5/1
2016 2 LADY AURELIA Wesley Ward USA Frankie Dettori Stonestreet Stables LLC/G Bolton/P Leidel 2-9-00 2/1F
2015 2 ACAPULCO Wesley Ward USA Ryan Moore Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith 2-9-00 5/2F
2014 2 ANTHEM ALEXANDER Edward Lynam IRE Pat Smullen Noel O’Callaghan 2-9-00 9/4F
2013 2 RIZEENA Clive Brittain James Doyle Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum 2-8-12 6/1
2012 2 CEILING KITTY Tom Dascombe Richard Kingscote Andrew Black & The Master Bettors 2-8-12 20/1
2011 2 BEST TERMS Richard Hannon snr Richard Hughes Robert Barnett 2-8-12 12/1
2010 2 MAQAASID John Gosden Richard Hills Hamdan Al Maktoum 2-8-12 9/4F
2009 2 JEALOUS AGAIN Wesley Ward USA John Velazquez R Abrams, R Brewer, M Dutko, W Ward 2-8-12 13/2
2008 LANGS LASH Mick Quinlan Alan Munro John Hanly 2-8-12 25/1
2007 2 ELLETELLE Ger Lyons IRE Johnny Murtagh Jesse Club Syndicate 2-8-12 20/1
2006 2 GILDED Richard Hannon snr Richard Hughes Mrs J Wood 2-8-12 11/2
*2005 2 FLASHY WINGS Mick Channon Ted Durcan Jaber Abdullah 2-8-10 4/1JF
2004 2 DAMSON David Wachman IRE Jamie Spencer Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor 2-8-10 11/2JF
2003 3 ATTRACTION Mark Johnston Kevin Darley Duke of Roxburghe 2-8-10 13/8F
2002 3 ROMANTIC LIASON Brian Meehan Pat Eddery Con Wilson 2-8-08 16/1
2001 3 QUEEN’S LOGIC Mick Channon Steve Drowne Jaber Abdullah 2-8-08 13/2
2000 3 ROMANTIC MYTH Tim Easterby Kevin Darley Terry Holdcroft 2-8-06 4/1F
1999 3 SHINING HOUR Peter Chapple-Hyam Jimmy Fortune Robert Sangster 2-8-08 20/1
1998 3 BINT ALLAYL Mick Channon Frankie Dettori Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum 2-8-08 2/1F
1997 3 NADWAH Peter Walwyn Richard Hills Hamdan Al Maktoum 2-8-08 10/1
1996 3 DANCE PARADE Paul Cole Michael Kinane Prince Fahd Salman 2-8-08 8/1
1995 3 BLUE DUSTER David Loder Michael Kinane Sheikh Mohammed 2-8-08 7/4F
1994 3 GAY GALLANTA Michael Stoute Walter Swinburn Cheveley Park Stud 2-8-08 16/1
1993 3 RISKY Richard Hannon snr Walter Swinburn Roldvale Ltd 2-8-08 11/2
1992/ 3 LYRIC FANTASY Richard Hannon snr Michael Roberts Lord Carnarvon 2-8-08 11/8F
1991 3 MARLING Geoff Wragg Gary Carter Edmund Loder 2-8-08 11/4F
1990 3 ON TIPTOES Jim Leigh Dean McKeown John Rowles 2-8-08 8/1
1989 3 DEAD CERTAIN David Elsworth Steve Cauthen Commander Toby Marten 2-8-08 8/1
1988 3 GLORIELLA John McLaughlin IRE John Reid John McLaughlin 2-8-08 8/1
1987 3 PRINCESS ATHENA David Elsworth Willie Carson Henry Senn 2-8-08 9/1
1986 3 FOREST FLOWER Ian Balding Pat Eddery Paul Mellon 2-8-08 9/4JF
1985 3 GWYDION Henry Cecil Steve Cauthen Stavros Niarchos 2-8-08 2/1F
1984 3 HI-TECH GIRL Peter Makin Greville Starkey Intercraft 2-8-08 16/1
1983 2 NIGHT OF WIND Matt McCormack Bruce Raymond P Durkan 2-8-08 50/1
1982 2 WIDAAD Michael Stoute Walter Swinburn Maktoum Al Maktoum 2-8-08 13/8F
1981 2 FLY BABY Richard Hannon snr Paul Cook Malden Farms Ltd 2-8-08 40/1
1980 2 PUSHY Henry Cecil Joe Mercer Lord Tavistock 2-8-08 7/1
1979 2 ABEER Jeremy Tree Willie Carson Khalid Abdullah 2-8-08 7/1
1978 2 GREENLAND PARK William Hastings-Bass Harry White Greenland Park Ltd 2-8-08 15/2
1977 2 AMARANDA Harry Wragg Lester Piggott Budgie Moller 2-8-08 4/6F