Queen Mary Stakes
 QuinnBet
Group 2, Ascot 14:30
£150,000 guaranteed,
2yo only,
5f, Class 1  
Wednesday 18th June 2025

1 True Love 9/4F
2 Flowerhead 100/1
3 Lennilu 11/2
4 Cardiff By The Sea 11/1
23 ran NR: America, Eternal Solace

Aidan O’Brien may have conquered most Royal Ascot peaks, but this race had until now remained just out of reach. That changed today, as True Love confirmed the promise of her near-miss behind Coventry Stakes winner Gstaad with a commanding display over five furlongs.

Despite coming under pressure earlier than some, the daughter of  No Nay Never responded willingly for Ryan Moore, slicing through on the stands’ side to score by a length and a quarter. It was a performance rich in both grit and potential.

On the far side, Flowerhead stayed on stoutly to grab second at eye-watering odds of 100/1 for Charlie Clover — a breakthrough moment for the Newmarket handler — while American challenger Lennilu stuck on for third under the returning Patrick Biancone.

For O’Brien, the result ticks off the final piece of his juvenile puzzle — he’s now trained the winner of every two-year-old race at the Royal meeting.

“She’s a big, powerful filly — walked around the ring like a four-year-old,” said the Ballydoyle maestro. “She had to do a lot of the work herself, there wasn’t much pace where she was drawn, but Ryan gave her a brilliant ride. He didn’t wait — he just trusted her. And she found plenty.”

That trust is grounded in strong form. On debut, True Love was second to Lady Imam; next time, she chased home Gstaad, who bolted up here yesterday. “After both runs, the lads came in and said, ‘They won’t beat her again’,” O’Brien smiled. “Now you see why.”

Moore was similarly taken with her: “She’s a proper No Nay Never — big, strong, fast. But there’s more to come. I think six furlongs will suit her well.”

Co-owner Michael Tabor echoed the sentiment. “She stood out in the paddock — we were confident, especially after Gstaad’s win. And with her pedigree, there’s plenty to look forward to. Her dam is in foal to City Of Troy, so it’s a family that’s really going places.”

Flowerhead gave her connections plenty to dream about. “She’s always shown us something,” said Charlie Clover, “but to run like that, at that price, at Royal Ascot — it’s huge. We’re a small team and Amo’s support is a game-changer. I only started training in December — this was a long way from the original plan.”

For Lennilu, a third-place finish marked a pleasing return to Ascot for Biancone, nearly four decades since his last runner at the meeting. “She’s only a baby, and she kept fighting. That’s what I liked. We’ll let her rest now and aim for Del Mar. She’s got a future.”

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

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (25)    True Love 2 9-2 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore 9/4F
2 (7) 1¼ Flowerhead 2 9-2 Charlie Clover Colin Keane 100/1
3 (13) ½ Lennilu 2 9-2 Patrick L Biancone Luis Saez 11/2
4 (16) nse Cardiff By The Sea 2 9-2 J A Stack Oisin Murphy 11/1
5 (4) nse Staya 2 9-2 George Scott Callum Shepherd 16/1
6 (12) ½ Shine On Me 2 9-2 Archie Watson James McDonald 100/1
7 (3) ¾ Eskimo Pie 2 9-2 Jane Chapple-Hyam Dylan Browne McMonagle 125/1
8 (15) nk Zelaina 2 9-2 K R Burke James Doyle 5/1
9 (1) 1 Come On Eibhlin 2 9-2 Dylan Cunha Josephine Gordon 250/1
10 (5) 1½ Spicy Marg 2 9-2 Michael Bell Kieran Shoemark 11/1
11 (9) 2½ Revival Power 2 9-2 Tim Easterby David Allan 33/1
12 (10) ½ Society Kiss 2 9-2 Ralph Beckett Hector Crouch 7/1
13 (8) ½ Love Olivia 2 9-2 K R Burke David Egan 25/1
14 (20) ½ Justice Twice 2 9-2 Hilal Kobeissi Hollie Doyle 100/1
15 (18) ½ Secret Hideaway 2 9-2 Adrian Paul Keatley P J McDonald 33/1
16 (14) ¾ Paris Carver 2 9-2 Adrian Murray Rossa Ryan 40/1
17 (2) 61 Solana Rose 2 9-2 David O'Meara Daniel Tudhope 40/1
18 (17) 2¼ Guernsey Lady 2 9-2 David Evans J F Egan 200/1
19 (11) ½ Miss Yechance 2 9-2 Jack Morland Neil Callan 80/1
20 (21) ¾ Viamarie 2 9-2 George Boughey Billy Loughnane 28/1
21 (23) 6½ Social Exclusion 2 9-2 James Owen Silvestre De Sousa 250/1
22 (6) 15 Caitlin G 2 9-2 Michael Keady Kyle McHugh 250/1
PU (19) Harry's Girl 2 9-2 Richard Hannon Sean Levey 16/1
NR 1 (24) America 2 9-2 Brian Meehan NON RUNNER
NR 6 (22) Eternal Solace 2 9-2 Ollie Sangster NON RUNNER

Trainers Quotes

QUEEN MARY STAKES WINNERS

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

2024 2 LEOVANNI K R Burke James Doyle Wathnan Racing 2 9-02 22/1
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