BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-bred stakes-winner Celtic Dispute is entered among 27 other 2-year-old fillies for Wednesday’s US$219,000 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot, a Group 2 event run over a straight five furlongs on the turf. First conducted in 1921 and named for the consort of King George V, the Queen Mary is the first major race of the British racing season exclusively for juvenile fillies. Post time for the Queen Mary is 9:30 a.m. EDT.
Trained by Patrick Biancone, who last year saddled Florida-bred Lennilu to a third-place finish behind winner True Love (Ire) in the Queen Mary, Celtic Dispute earned her Queen Mary invitation with a neck victory in the $114,000 Royal Palm Juvenile at Gulfstream Park on May 9, racing five furlongs on the turf against colts and geldings on May 9.
Celtic Dispute and jockey Luis Saez tracked a length off odds-on favorite Skara Brae in the initial furlong of the Royal Palm. They then challenged Skara Brae in the turn and prevailed in the final strides. It was the second start for Celtic Dispute after finishing second to Florida-bred Boots in a maiden special weight for fillies going four-and-a-half furlongs on the main track on April 16.
Celtic Dispute has earned $79,300 for owners Dew Sweepers in her two starts. She is by Leinster out of Bert’s Altarcation, by Bertrando and was bred in Florida by K. Sheehan, M. F. Nicholson, Dr. J. Speis and M. Guauchat & McN Thoroughbreds. Dew Sweepers bought her for $90,000 out of last year’s Fasig-Tipton July Select Yearling Sale.
Slated at 15-1 on the morning line, Celtic Dispute will don the number five saddle cloth and Christophe Soumillon has the mount.
The morning line favorite with 9-2 odds is Victorious (Ire), who is undefeated in two starts, both a Naas Racecourse in Ireland for trainer Aidan O’Brien.
The bay daughter of Wooton Bassett (GB) out of Heaven On Earth (Ire), by Galileo (Ire) won the US$25,700 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden by a length-and-three-quarters on April 27 and the US$81,400 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint on May 17, both over a straight six furlongs.
Victorious is owned by Mrs. John Mannier, Michael Tabor, D. Smith and Westerberg and will be ridden by Ryan Moore. She is number 26.
Also entered are Senorita Bonita (Ire) and Fast Track (Ire), who were first and second respectively with only a nose separating them at the wire in the US$13,500 British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Fillies Stakes at Nottingham Racecourse on June 3.
Trained by Simon and Ed Crisford and ridden by jockey Oisin Murphy, Senorita Bonita was slow to get underway and had to move around horses to catch the clear-running Fast Track.
William Buick will ride Senorita Bonita and they are 5-1 on the morning line.
Trained by Andrew Balding, Fast Track was third behind Queen Mary-rivals Pershaada (Ire) and Kentucky Rain (Ire) in her debut in the US$26,900 British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies Novice going five furlongs on the Goodwood turf on May 22.
Rob Hornby has the call on Fast Track and they are listed at 20-1 on the morning line.
Other fillies set for the Queen Mary are More Champagne with jockey John Velazquez, Big Negotiator (GB) with P. J. McDonald up, Ruiva has Juan Hernandez riding, Magic Effort with Benoit De La Sayette in the irons, Niewiadoma (Ire) has Luke Morris taking the assignment, Amor Supreme will have Rossa Ryan up, Princess d’Orange has Daniel Tudhope in the saddle, Oisin Murphy rides Shining Moment, W. J. Lee will guide Velozee (Ire), Pershaada (Ire) has Sean Levey aboard, Alta Regina (Ire) with jockey James Mcdonald, Dylan Browne McMonagle takes the reins on Shimmering Sun (Ire), Crownbreaker and rider David Egan, and Paddy Bradley rides Miss Lizzy (GB). Your Song is scratched.
Return to the June 16 issue of Wire to Wire
