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Queen Aminatu Reigns In TalkSPORT Fillies' And Mares'

Championship News
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07 April 2023

Queen Aminatu unleashed a power-packed finish to complete a hat-trick of wins in the talkSPORT All-Weather Fillies' And Mares' Championships. 

 

Anthony Oppenheimer’s homebred went into the seven-furlong highlight on the back of Listed wins at Lingfield Park and Deauville but was sent off 6/4 second-favourite behind 11/10 market leader Manaafith, who was defending a perfect record on the all-weather. 

 

Cieren Fallon anchored Queen Aminatu in last of the seven runners and looked to track through the strong-travelling Manaafith as the pace lifted passing the two-furlong pole. 

 

Manaafith cruised into a narrow lead over a furlong from home, although she was unable to repel Aramis Grey, who herself briefly took up the running inside the final furlong. 

 

Both fillies were collared by Queen Aminatu, with the William Haggas-trained four-year-old storming home to win by a length and a quarter. Aramis Grey filled the runner-up spot, with Manaafith dead-heating for third with Hodd’s Girl. 

 

Fallon said: “The race went to plan. I got Queen Aminatu settled in behind off a nice gallop and just waited for gaps, really. She is a very genuine filly; this was her first run of the year and I just needed to get her settled early on because she can be quite a handful early on.

 

"They went a good gallop, a gap opened up, I clicked the ‘go’ button on her and she had some serious turn of foot to pick up and put the race to bed in a matter of strides.

 

“Jim [Crowley, on Manaafith] was drawn next to us and it was always the idea to follow him. He was the opposition, I felt, and the one to beat. We streamlined the whole way and when the gap came, she picked up nicely.

 

“Queen Aminatu has won over a mile and seven furlongs. She is a very versatile filly and it’s that turn of foot she has to put a lot of races to bed. It is a stiff seven here, but she hit the line strongly with her ears pricked, which is promising.

 

“She has improved loads. Since the back end of last year, her two performances in Listed races were breath-taking and she has won comfortably today, which is exciting for the year ahead.

 

“She has a high knee-action but points her toe as well. She has won on soft and on good, so she goes on any ground. She is a really pleasing filly; she tries for you and is everything you want in a racehorse.”

 

Aramis Grey’s jockey Callum Shepherd said: “She is an amazing filly. She steps up every time she’s faced with a tougher task, and she’s level to it every time. It was a phenomenal run at the weights and I can’t wait to see where she goes next.

 

“I think her mark stays the same on the back of a conditions race, so she’s on a very workable mark. But based on that, she’s earned a go at some black type and I think she should be able to go and win some black type. She has a fantastic attitude. She is a star.”

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