Queen Mary Stakes
Group 2, Ascot 14:30 £150,000 guaranteed, 2yo only, 5f, Class 1
Tweet Wednesday 17th June 2026

Wild Blossom announced herself as a filly of considerable promise with a striking debut success in the British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes at Carlisle, providing Wathnan Racing and Karl Burke with another potentially high-class juvenile.

WILD BLOSSOM (IRE) appearing on the radar screen with an impressive 10L debut in the British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes @CarlisleRaces. A real nice juvenile prospect for Wathnan Racing with big targets ahead in the Group stage this season. pic.twitter.com/RyjiGyaOe3

— John G. Dooley (@JohnGDooley) May 18, 2026

The daughter of Mehmas, purchased for 300,000 guineas at the Craven breeze-up sales, looked every inch a worthwhile investment as she powered clear to beat Crownbreaker by 10 lengths.

Miss Havisham set the pace early, with Wild Blossom tracking comfortably in behind before James Doyle asked her to lengthen approaching the final furlong and a half. From there, the response was immediate and emphatic as the 15-8 chance quickly put the race beyond doubt.

Richard Brown, racing adviser to Wathnan Racing, said: “It’s very exciting. Wathnan are big supporters of the breeze-up sales and that’s our first runner of the year so it was great to see her go and do that.

“The most pleasing thing is the filly in second had run a really nice race at Newmarket and it looked like there was plenty of support for Kevin Ryan’s (Miss Havisham), so I’d say it was a decent race.

“It looked it on paper beforehand. It was an expensive field and it was a valuable maiden, so there’s a huge amount of positives to take out it.

“I thought her attitude was fantastic and it couldn’t be more exciting. The ground’s on the soft side and it is a stiff five so you’d think she’s ticked a lot of boxes.”

Burke won the same race 12 months ago with Venetian Sun, who subsequently landed the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot, and connections are now set to follow a similar route with Wild Blossom.

Brown added: “It’s definitely going to be Ascot, she doesn’t need to run again. It’ll be straight to Ascot and I’d imagine that will be the Queen Mary.”

BINT ARCHANGE impresses breaking her maiden second time out

Ubettabelieveit 2yo, granddam SP Carinae

3rd dam Gr3 Turning Wheel@RHughesracing @kildaraghstud @Tattersalls1766 @MickleyStud pic.twitter.com/C2xLkW4qh9

— Pedigree Update (@pedigreeupdate) May 8, 2026

Bint Archange looks set for a trip to Royal Ascot after producing a deeply impressive display at Newbury earlier this month for trainer Richard Hughes.

The daughter of Ubettabelieveit, purchased for 45,000 euros as a yearling, had hinted at ability when finishing third on debut during Newmarket’s Craven meeting and took a significant step forward on her second start.

Ridden by William Buick, she travelled smoothly before quickening decisively clear to score by four lengths, confirming the promise she had shown first time out.

Philip Robinson, racing manager to owner Jaber Abdullah, said: “What can you say, that was very pleasing to see. The owner is very keen on her and she will be a Queen Mary filly – when they’ve won at the track it’s always very encouraging and exciting to know they enjoy it there.

“She wasn’t too expensive of a buy either, so it’s always good to have one show quality when you’ve managed to get them for a good price. We quietly fancied her first time out where she didn’t run badly, we thought she’d come on for that and she duly did.”

✅ Crystal Queen captures the Hilary Needler Trophy! pic.twitter.com/w6MA97xGL0

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 30, 2026

Crystal Queen is set to head for Royal Ascot after making a striking impression in the Hilary Needler Trophy at Beverley, with connections now weighing up which of the meeting’s premier juvenile fillies’ races will suit her best.

The daughter of Cotai Glory had shown plenty of promise on her debut at Ayr when finishing second to the highly regarded Ruler’s Pride, an expensive breeze-up purchase who started at prohibitive odds. Just 10 days later, she confirmed that promise in emphatic fashion on the Westwood, running out an authoritative winner.

Joint-trainer Richard Fahey has already earmarked Royal Ascot as her next destination, although a final decision has yet to be made on whether she remains over five furlongs for the Queen Mary Stakes or steps up to six furlongs for the Albany Stakes.

Fahey said: “The draw (stall eight) wasn’t ideal, but she did everything right – she settled and relaxed and finished the race off really well.

“The horse that beat us at Ayr could be a decent one, but I just felt they hacked and sprinted and she was a little bit keen. The third horse was way behind us and that one had finished second before, so we’ll see.

“She seemed to gallop right to the line the other day, so I might contemplate the Albany as well. I’ll speak to the owner (Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum) and then decide.”

The manner in which Crystal Queen settled before finishing strongly at Beverley has encouraged connections to consider stretching out to six furlongs, while her natural speed means the Queen Mary remains a realistic alternative.

Either way, Royal Ascot now appears firmly on the agenda for a filly who has quickly emerged as one of the more exciting juvenile prospects in the Musley Bank yard.

Queen Mary Stakes
£150,000 guaranteed, 2yo only, 5f, Class 3
entries
Going:

running order

QUEEN MARY STAKES WINNERS