Homebred Queen Regent makes winning US debut
The late Roaring Lion sired his first winner in the US on Thursday when his daughter Queen Regent carried the Qatar Racing colours to success on her first start since leaving the UK.
Queen Regent had reached an official rating of 91 for John and Thady Gosden in Newmarket having won once and finished in the frame 6 more times from 8 starts in Britain.
She signed off with a good second in a competitive fillies’ handicap at Lingfield in January and left to join the stable of Brendan Walsh, who has plenty of success for Qatar Racing in North America, including with the likes of Ocean Road, First World War and Guildsman.
Another regular partner with Qatar Racing is top jockey Tyler Gaffalione – multiple Gr.1 winner on board Caravel – who rode Queen Regent to victory in the allowance race over 10.5f at Kentucky Downs on September 5.
Queen Regent was having only her 3rd start on turf and, still wearing the cheekpieces she sported on her final UK start, she settled in midfield before coming around the field to lay down her challenge in the straight. She won by
Queen Regent is a half-sister to Gr.1 placed, Gr.3 winner Know It All, whose first 2yo Always Right is by Kameko and in training with Yann Barberot in France. Queen Regent is also a half-sister to Group-winning females Astrophysical Jet and Coral Wave.
Roaring Lion – like Qatar Racing’s aforementioned current first-season sire Kameko – was by Kitten’s Joy, multiple champion turf sire in the US, so it was only a matter of time before he sired a winner in North America.