Fillies go so close on second day of Royal Ascot
In a very strong renewal of the Gr.2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes, Purr Along was third, beaten a total of four lengths by Integral and French runner L'Amour De La Vie, while Queen Catrine went down by just a short head in the Listed Sandringham Handicap, with another Qatar Racing representative, Graceful Grit, close behind in fourth.
David Redvers, who manages Qatar Racing's interests, said of Purr Along: "I'm delighted, because that has to be a career-best effort. Unfortunately she had to switch to the right, rather than the left, which meant she was following the wrong horses, but she quickened like a knife through butter.
"We can now look forward to races like the Matron Stakes or QIPCO Falmouth Stakes [both are Group One] for her. She handled today's fast ground, but the difference is that on this type of going the good horses in front don't stop, so although she was catching them she couldn't quite get there. It was a Group One race in everything bar name."
Of Queen Catrine, Redvers said: "I thought we had a winner there, but she ran a tremendous race considering fans of trainer Mark Johnston have been saying his horse, Muteela, was his best hope of the meeting. Being dropped out and coming late really suited her. This was the plan so I've no idea about a future target for her.
"I'm looking forward to our runners over the next two days, particularly in the Coronation Stakes [in which Lightning Thunder and Kiyoshi represent the Al Thani brothers' interests]."
FURTHER SUCCESS FOR MAKFI
Makfi has sired another winner, his latest success coming at Cork where the Willie McCreery-trained Leading Actress won a maiden.
Owned by Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum, and bred by his Darley operation, Leading Actress is the second foal of the Sadler's Wells mare Emmy Award, and comes from the family of Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Lammtarra.
First-season sire Makfi, a son of Dubawi, is owned by Qatar Bloodstock and stands at Tweenhills Farm and Stud in Gloucestershire.