Queen's Vase
 QuinnBet
Group 2, Ascot 15:05
£265,000 guaranteed,
3yo only,
1m 6f 34y, Class 1  
Wednesday 18th June 2025

1 Carmers 9/2
2 Furthur 20/1
3 Rahiebb 9/1
13 ran Distances: ¾l, hd, nk
Time: 2m 59.53s (fast by 1.97s)

From Ballinrobe to the biggest stage of all, Carmers continued his relentless rise with a gutsy, grinding victory — rewriting the 14-furlong course record and handing Irish trainer Paddy Twomey a maiden Royal Ascot winner.

Unbeaten coming in and now three from three, the rangy stayer delivered exactly what his profile promised. Sent on early in the straight by the ever-cool Billy Lee, Carmers rolled into top gear from five furlongs out and simply refused to yield, fending off a trio of late challengers in a blanket finish.

With ears pricked and eyes fixed, the son of Signe hit the line in 2:59.53, carving over a second off Illinois’ previous best from last year.

20/1 outsider Furthur threw down a strong challenge and wouldn’t go away, closing with every stride but just lacking the final punch to reel in the winner. He went down swinging, three-quarters of a length back, while Rahiebb followed a further head away in third — another who had every chance but was just outmuscled when it mattered.

For Twomey, who has been quietly assembling an enviable string of quality horses, this was a breakthrough that felt as inevitable as it was well-deserved.

“I knew he’d stay. Billy looked comfortable turning in and once they got racing, I thought, ‘this is our game.’ He’s three from three now. He just keeps doing it,” said Twomey, who was quick to thank owner-breeder Fiona Carmichael. “This is her first foal out of the mare. He’s very important to her — and to us.”

Lee, who made it two wins in two days after scoring in Tuesday’s Ascot Stakes, rode with supreme judgement:

“He takes a while to get rolling, so I asked him early. He just keeps building, and I always felt he had another gear if I needed it,” Lee said. “He’s that laid-back at home, you’d swear he wouldn’t chase a stick. But ask him, and he keeps giving.”

That stoic nature came in handy as Carmers knuckled down late. Lee added:

“He was pricking his ears at the line. There’s more in the tank. He’ll stay even further — a St Leger entry has to be the next logical step.”

For Carmichael, who bred Carmers herself, the moment was almost too much to process.

“I’m living the dream — and utterly nervous all day! This is unbelievable. He’s the first foal out of my mare, Signe. It’s all quite new, but I’ve loved every second of it.”

Further back, Furthur’s trainer Andrew Balding was rightly beaming:

“He’s been a brilliant horse for a great syndicate. That was some effort — we might look at the Bahrain Trophy next. St Leger? Who knows.”

As for Rahiebb, Roger Varian saw enough to mark him down as one for the future:

“Still raw. Didn’t behave in the prelims, missed the break, and couldn’t quite get a clean run. But with a year on him, he could be very exciting in these staying races.”

In a race that promised stamina, class, and determination — Carmers brought all three. And in doing so, he’s stamped himself as a serious player in the staying division, not just for today, but for the season ahead.

Queen's Vase (Group 2)
£265,000 guaranteed, 3yo only, 1m 6f 34y, Class 1
13 ran
Going: Good to Firm, Good in places

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (4)    Carmers 3 9-2 P Twomey W J Lee 9/2
2 (2) ¾ Furthur 3 9-2 Andrew Balding Oisin Murphy 20/1
3 (10) hd Rahiebb 3 9-2 Roger Varian Silvestre De Sousa 9/1
4 (3) nk Shackleton 3 9-2 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore 9/2
5 (7) nk Scandinavia 3 9-2 A P O'Brien Wayne Lordan 16/1
6 (8) ¾ Hallelujah U 3 9-2 James Owen Jim Crowley 80/1
7 (6) 1¼ Titanium Emperor 3 9-2 Adrian Murray David Egan 33/1
8 (5) 1¼ Pinhole 3 9-2 Ralph Beckett Colin Keane 4/1J
9 (12) 1¾ Too Soon 3 9-2 Gary & Josh Moore Rhys Clutterbuck 66/1
10 (13) 3 Asmarani 3 9-2 F-H Graffard Mickael Barzalona 4/1J
11 (11) 7½ Spinning Wheel 3 9-2 Simon & Ed Crisford Harry Davies 25/1
12 (1) 8½ Al Wasl Storm 3 9-2 Owen Burrows David Probert 80/1
13 (9) 28 Devil's Advocate 3 9-2 John & Thady Gosden William Buick 9/1

SureWIn

QUEEN’S VASE WINNERS

YEAR GR WINNER TRAINER JOCKEY OWNER AGE/WGT SP

2024 2 ILLINOIS Aidan O'Brien IRE Ryan Moore Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor & Sue Magnier 3-9-02 7/4F
2023 2 GREGORY John & Thady Gosden Frankie Dettori Wathnan Racing 3 9-02 EvsF
2022 2 ELDAR ELDAROV Roger Varian David Egan KHK Racing Ltd 3-9-02 5/2F
2021 2 KEMARI Charlie Appleby William Buick Godolphin 3-9-00 15/2
2020 2 SANTIAGO Aidan O’Brien IRE Ryan Moore Michael Tabor, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor 3-9-00 100/30
2019 2 DASHING WILLOUGHBY Andrew Balding Oisin Murphy Mick & Janice Mariscotti 3-9-00 6/1
2018 2 KEW GARDENS Aidan O’Brien IRE Ryan Moore Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor 3-9-00 10/3
2017 2 STRADIVARIUS John Gosden Andrea Atzeni Bjorn Nielsen 3-9-00 11/2
2016 L SWORD FIGHTER Aidan O’Brien IRE Colm O’Donoghue Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier 3-9-03 33/1
2015 L ALOFT Aidan O’Brien IRE Ryan Moore Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor 3-9-03 5/2F
2014 3 HARTNELL Mark Johnston Joe Fanning Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum 3-9-03 7/2
2013 3 LEADING LIGHT Aidan O’Brien IRE Joseph O’Brien Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor 3-9-04 5/4F
2012 3 ESTIMATE Sir Michael Stoute Ryan Moore H M The Queen 3-8-12 3/1F
2011 3 NAMIBIAN Mark Johnston Silvestre De Sousa Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum 3-9-01 7/2F
2010 3 MIKHAIL GLINKA Aidan O’Brien IRE Johnny Murtagh Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith 3-9-01 2/1F
2009 3 HOLBERG Mark Johnston Joe Fanning Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum 3-9-01 7/1
2008 PATKAI Sir Michael Stoute Ryan Moore Ballymacoll Stud 3-9-01 6/4F
2007 3 MAHLER Aidan O’Brien IRE Michael Kinane Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith 3-9-01 7/1
2006 3 SOAPY DANGER Mark Johnston Kevin Darley Renata Jacobs 3-9-01 4/1
*2005 3 MELROSE AVENUE Mark Johnston Kevin Darley Sheikh Mohammed 3-8-11 4/1
2004 3 DUKE OF VENICE Saeed bin Suroor Frankie Dettori Godolphin 3-8-11 9/2
2003 3 SHANTY STAR Mark Johnston Kevin Darley Maktoum Al Maktoum 3-8-11 7/2F
2002 3 MAMOOL Saeed bin Suroor Frankie Dettori Godolphin 3-8-11 9/1
2001 3 AND BEYOND Mark Johnston Kevin Darley Maktoum Al Maktoum 3-8-11 11/1
2000/20/06 3 DALAMPOUR Sir Michael Stoute Kieren Fallon H H Aga Khan 3-8-11 3/1F
1999 3 ENDORSEMENT Henry Cecil Kieren Fallon Cliveden Stud 3-8-06 5/1
1998 3 MARIDPOUR Sir Michael Stoute Walter Swinburn H H Aga Khan 3-8-11 6/1
1997 3 WINDSOR CASTLE Paul Cole Richard Quinn Fahd Salman 3-8-11 9/2
1996 3 GORDI Dermot Weld IRE Michael Kinane Allen Paulson 3-8-11 7/1
1995 3 STELVIO Henry Cecil Michael Kinane Sheikh Mohammed 3-8-11 7/4F
1994 3 SILVER WEDGE Geoff Lewis Michael Hills Shirley Robins 3-8-11 20/1
1993 3 INFRASONIC Andre Fabre FR Pat Eddery Khalid Abdullah 3-8-11 3/1F
1992 3 LANDOWNER John Gosden Ray Cochrane Sheikh Mohammed 3-8-11 8/1
1991 3 JENDALI Henry Cecil Steve Cauthen Sheikh Mohammed 3-8-11 15/2
1990 L RIVER GOD Henry Cecil Steve Cauthen Sheikh Mohammed 3-8-11 6/4F
1989 L WELD William Jarvis Bruce Raymond Lord Howard de Walden 3-8-09 16/1
1988 L GREEN ADVENTURE Guy Harwood Greville Starkey J Garcia-Roady 3-8-09 6/4F
1987 L ARDEN Henry Cecil Steve Cauthen Lord Howard de Walden 3-8-09 7/2
1986 L STAVORDALE Tom Jones Michael Roberts Solna Thomson Jones 3-7-10 33/1
1985 3 WASSL MERBAYEH Tom Jones Richard Hills Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum 3-8-00 6/1
1984 3 BAYNOUN Fulke Johnson Houghton Willie Carson H H Aga Khan 3-8-00 13/8F
1983 3 SANTELLA MAN Guy Harwood Greville Starkey Roy Taiano 4-9-08 11/1
1982 3 EVZON Clive Brittain Lester Piggott Capt Marcos Lemos 4-9-03 16/1
1981 3 ORE Kevin Prendergast IRE Willie Carson Patrick Prendergast 3-8-00 15/2
1980 3 TOONDRA Michael Jarvis Paul Cook Lady Beaverbrook 3-8-00 15/2
1979 3 BUTTRESS Dick Hern Willie Carson H M Queen 3-8-05 3/1F
1978 3 LE MOSS Henry Cecil Geoff Baxter Carlo d’Alessio 3-8-00 7/4F
1977 3 MILLIONAIRE Peter Walwyn Pat Eddery Mrs D McCalmont 3-8-05 8/1
*run at York
run at two miles from 1977 to 2016.