Ward all smiles as he unleashes his 'best five-furlong horse' in Queen Mary

2.30 Royal Ascot
Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2) | 5f | 2yo fillies | ITV/Sky

The vast majority of US-trained sprinters we have enjoyed witnessing at Royal Ascot in recent years have been blessed with tremendous speed from the stalls.

It is reasonable to assume there should be pace on either side with the two US runners, Twilight Gleaming and Artos, drawn in stalls 20 and two.

Twilight Gleaming actually missed the break on her debut at Keeneland in April when sent off 3-5 favourite for a fillies' maiden on dirt.

Her mid-race efforts to recover took their toll late on, and she was beaten a length by Shesgotattitude.

It was a far more clinical and professional filly who reappeared at Belmont Park on firm ground the following month.

Razor-sharp from the stalls this time, the daughter of National Defense made all to slam stablemate Poppy Flower by seven and a half lengths.

It was the sort of performance which had 'Royal Ascot filly' written all over it and, although the form has yet to be properly tested, you'd be surprised if she didn't possess sufficient ability to make a serious splash at Group level.

Her trainer Wesley Ward boasts an outstanding record in the Queen Mary, having landed it four times via Campanelle (2020), Lady Aurelia (2016), Acapulco (2015) and Jealous Again (2009).

He clearly knows what it takes to win this race, and the vibes in the build-up have been good.

Twilight Gleaming, likely to be sent off a warm favourite, isn't the only contender towards the top of the market to be drawn high.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Yet, who showed a good attitude to wear down Orinoco River and win by a neck on her debut at Dundalk last month, is berthed in stall 16.

Ryan Moore should get a nice tow into the race from Twilight Gleaming, and it's a near certainty his mount will improve bundles from that first appearance in which she was sent off 4-1.

Orinoco River, who started evens favourite, and Yet pulled seven and a half lengths clear of the third, Cailin Cliste, that day.

The pair renew rivalry on the Royal Ascot stage, and you could also argue Orinoco River, drawn in stall four, will also get a nice lead on her side of the track by the other US raider, Artos, who starts from box two.

Her rider Frankie Dettori has dominated the Queen Mary riding honours lately, landing three of the last five runnings courtesy of Campanelle, Raffle Prize (2019) and Lady Aurelia.

Artos, who was beaten six lengths by Ruthin on her Keeneland debut in April, showed significant improvement to beat Overbore by a nose at Churchill Downs last month.

The ground was officially 'firm' that day, and conditions at the Berkshire track probably won't be too dissimilar with baking hot temperatures forecast for the opening two days of the meeting.

Quick Suzy (left) chases home Hermana Estrella at NaasCredit: Caroline Norris

It's possible to argue a strong case for the Gavin Cromwell-trained Quick Suzy, who is drawn in stall 22.

Not only is she drawn close to Twilight Gleaming and Yet, but she also possesses proven Group form, having finished second in a Naas Group 3 last month.

That was on soft ground so she needs to prove her effectiveness under significantly faster conditions, but she's already shown a high level of ability and is going the right way.
Race analysis by Richard Birch

Artos connections hoping for big finish

When Frankie Dettori watched back the tape of Artos's win over five and a half furlongs last month at Churchill Downs, he will have been delighted with the speed she showed out of the gate to lead into the turn and the way she finished.

What happened in between was something of a mystery, as the daughter of Kodiac – a first Royal Ascot runner for veteran Kentucky trainer Rusty Arnold – was overhauled by two rivals and looked booked for no better than third, before being switched out by Julien Leparoux and rallying to snatch success on the line.

Co-owner Ciaran Dunne said: "I didn't see it live and watching it at home I thought she didn't win and then I'm like, oh my God! You really wouldn't like her to do that again but you'd like her to finish like that.

"Coming out of the turn she lost her action and got in a bit of a shemozzle but Julien said when he got her lined out, she really responded. It's a compliment to her that the horse that finished second, Overbore, came back and won a stakes race.

"Wesley was very high on him [Overbore] going into that race and so she booked her ticket."

What they say

George Boughey, trainer of Beautiful Sunshine
She was very impressive under a penalty and it'll be interesting to see how she gets on up in grade, but I've been happy with her.

Fozzy Stack, trainer of Cheerupsleepyjean
She's travelled over well and we're looking forward to getting her back on nice ground. She didn't handle the cut in the ground at the Curragh last time and looks to have an outside chance.

David Evans, trainer of Choux
I think she's come on a bit since her debut. She went to go to Sandown and got a bit of colic on the way so she was in the vets for a couple of days. She seems in great form. She's got a lot of speed, she won easily enough and you can only beat what's in front of you. I think she's drawn okay and I think she'll run well.

Crazyland (hooped cap, left) reopposes Nymphadora (noseband) from their meeting in the Listed Marygate Stakes at YorkCredit: Edward Whitaker

Clive Cox, trainer of Crazyland and Get Ahead
We were thrilled with Get Ahead's debut success at Ascot over course and distance. She's come forward from that and is from a very exciting family. She comes here with a live chance. Crazyland won her maiden first time out at Windsor and followed up with a really pleasing performance in the Marygate. The stiff five will suit and I've been pleased with her training since York.

Stuart Williams, trainer of Desert Dreamer
We're very happy with her. The form of her first race was very strong and I think the fast ground and the stiff five will suit. Oisin [Murphy] came and had a sit on her about ten days ago and was very happy to take the ride. We're confident we go there in the best shape we can.

Charlie Fellowes, trainer of Eve Lodge
Eve Lodge was a bit unlucky on her debut and improved to win as she liked at Lingfield. We're going to keep an eye on the ground as if the jockeys say it's rattling quick that might be a concern for us. We might even end up declaring for the Albany, but we'll see. Safe summer ground we'll be happy and Jamie [Spencer] is confident she can handle quicker ground. She has bags of speed and we look like we're well drawn.

Ken Condon, trainer of Harmony Rose
She's accumulated plenty of experience and that should stand to her. She's a straightforward filly who seems to be versatile in terms of ground. She'll need to improve but I think she's a solid type.

Karl Burke, trainer of Illustrating
Catterick wouldn't have been the ideal place to start but we ran the risk of being right on top of Ascot. She came out of the race well and I haven't had to do too much with her since. I'm very happy with the way she looks. I'm sure she'll get six furlongs in the future but she's shown plenty of toe.

Donnacha O'Brien, trainer of Orinoco River
She goes there in good form and had a nice run when second on her debut at Dundalk. We might be drawn on the wrong side but I think the ground should suit her nicely.

Gavin Cromwell, trainer of Quick Suzy
She's drawn in stall 22 and it looks as though the stands' side has been the place to be in this race in some of the last few years. Twilight Gleaming is obviously on that side too. She hasn't raced on fast ground before so that's a bit of an unknown but we're happy with her.

Wesley Ward, trainer of Twilight Gleaming
The race at Belmont is one I centre in on with my best five-furlong horse and that's her. We're ready, she's happy and fresh. We're one day out and we're all smiles right now.

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Yet
She seems to be well since her debut at Dundalk. She's a fine, big filly.
Reporting by Scott Burton

Wednesday's Royal Ascot previews:

3.05 Royal Ascot: Ballydoyle battalions primed to give Aidan O'Brien a ninth win in Queen's Vase

3.40 Royal Ascot: can any rivals throw down a challenge to 'enormously exciting' Lady Bowthorpe?

4.20 Royal Ascot: dual Classic heroine Love returns with Lord North a key absentee due to ground

4.20 Royal Ascot: can Love buck the trends for a winning return? Graeme Rodway says it's a big ask (Members' Club)

5.00 Royal Ascot: Richard Birch believes one side of the track holds the key to the Royal Hunt Cup

5.35 Royal Ascot: follow the market and you won't go far wrong with Ward's Royal Ascot juveniles

6.10 Royal Ascot: 'She has a cracking chance' – find out which trainer has high hopes of a winner