Queen Aminatu produced a devastating turn of foot to take the Listed talkSPORT EBF Fleur De Lys Fillies' Stakes at Lingfield Park this afternoon.
In what looked a highly competitive Fast-Track Qualifier, the William Haggas-trained three-year-old stormed down the outside under Cieren Fallon to win ears pricked by two and a quarter lengths.
Roman Mist filled the runner-up spot in this race for the second successive year, with Internationalangel running another creditable race in third.
Queen Aminatu finished second in the Listed October Stakes at Ascot earlier this month and today’s 4/1 success guarantees her a place in the £150,000 Fillies & Mares Championships on Finals Day at Newcastle.
Fallon said: “Queen Aminatu is a filly that has improved all year. We have held her in high regard and, although she has a few seconds to her name, she has been unlucky plenty of times.
“I should have won on her up at Haydock a couple of months ago, when I was a little frustrated with myself, and I had to make amends today.
“The plan went as we hoped. I had Ryan [Moore, Crystal Caprice] on my inside, James [Doyle, Internationalangel] just in front of me and I thought that if I could get first run on Ryan, it would be hard for him to come around me.
“I had a nice clear run up the home straight and hit the line strong. She is very reserved and looks after herself, which is a good trait for a filly.”
Earlier on the card, Godolphin filly Pennymoor led home a one-two for John & Thady Gosden in the Listed talkSPORT EBF River Eden Fillies’ Stakes.
Pennymoor chased home future G1 winner Sea La Rosa in the 13-furlong contest 12 months ago but was last on her only subsequent appearance in the Listed Beckford Stakes at Yarmouth earlier this month.
The daughter of Frankel was well-positioned throughout under James Doyle and stayed on well in the straight to wear down stable-mate Darmoiselle for a length and a quarter success. Bartzella was three parts of a length further back in third.
Doyle said of the 7/1 winner: “Pennymoor was beaten four lengths by a subsequent Group One winner in this race last year, although it was hard to have the confidence coming here after her last run.
“She is a big girl and it probably takes a run to put her on the metal, but we felt that if she reproduced her run from last year, it was probably the best form in the race.
“We had a slightly tricky gate [7] but she popped out and put herself in a good position. We were able to dictate the race a little bit in second and I was fortunate that I was able to go when I wanted to.”
