Arabian Queen wins Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom
Friday 5 June 2015 15:32, UK
Arabian Queen (9/1) made every yard of the running to land the Princess Elizabeth Stakes (sponsored by Investec) at Epsom.
Trained by David Elsworth and ridden by Silvestre de Sousa, the only three-year-old in the field was quickly into her stride in the Group Three contest and appeared to set a decent gallop.
She had several of her rivals under pressure with over a quarter of a mile to run though and had soon opened up a handy advantage over the chasing pack.
Crowley's Law emerged to give chase while Odeliz - runner-up 12 months ago - and Bold Lass came from the very rear of the field but couldn't significantly close the gap.
The winning margin was a decisive four lengths with Crowley's Law just holding on for second from Odeliz by three parts of a length.
It was a notable return to form for the winner who had landed the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket last July but failed to make an impact on her final two starts as a juvenile.
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De Sousa said: "She had won a Group Two as a two-year-old and David was very confident.
"He told me she'd been working well at home, she was getting the weight allowance so to make plenty of use of her, and fair play to her, she quickened up nicely.
"It's her first run this year, but she's genuine and tough. She only had 8st 8lb on her back, so it wasn't a lot."
Elsworth's assistant Paul Holley said: "She had problems after the Chery Hinton and she was never really right after that. She's come back this year and seemed very well at home.
"I was hopeful she would run a big race getting the weight off the others, as she was the only Group Two winner in the race.
"The plan was to jump out and try to make it all."
Owner and breeder Jeff Smith explained the absence of Elsworth, by saying: "He's very busy, he told me!
"This is a great training performance because ever since the Cherry Hinton she's had problem after problem, and in the end we had to have a sinus operation. But he's got her back and she's in the form she was for the Cherry Hinton. We were desperately disappointed last year that she didn't go on.
"Next stop is the Coronation Stakes but she will get a mile and a half. She's out of Barshiba, the whole family is full of stamina. It's very exciting. She's hosed up."
Tom Dascombe, trainer of the runner-up said: "She's a really tough filly who always gives her all, but giving 12lb away was too big a step.
"If she keeps getting placed in these Group races I'll be happy with her. If the race had been another furlong she'd have probably finished fourth as she was just getting a bit tired, so we'll keep her to a mile.
"She's in a Listed race at Cologne next week but we'll see how she is after this. I'd love to get a black-type win out of her."
Karl Burke, trainer of market leader Odeliz, said: "She's a cracking looking filly, it's just frustrating she can't win one of these races. I'm sure one will drop in her lap one of these days.
"Her perfect trip is probably a true-run nine furlongs. Fair play to the winner, as she quickened up well."
