Twilight Gleaming Could Give Ward Fifth Queen Mary Win

The vast majority of United States-trained sprinters we have enjoyed witnessing at Royal Ascot in recent years have been blessed with tremendous speed from the stalls.

It is reasonable to assume there should be pace on either side with the two U.S. runners in the June 16 Queen Mary Stakes (G2), Twilight Gleaming  and Artos , drawn in stalls 20 and 2.

Twilight Gleaming actually missed the break on her debut at Keeneland in April when sent off 3-5 favorite for a fillies' maiden on dirt.

Her mid-race efforts to recover took their toll late on, and she was beaten a length by Shesgotattitude .

It was a far more clinical and professional filly who reappeared at Belmont Park on firm ground the following month.

Razor-sharp from the stalls this time, the daughter of National Defense  made all to slam stablemate Poppy Flower  by 7 1/2 lengths.

It was the sort of performance which had 'Royal Ascot filly' written all over it and, although the form has yet to be properly tested, you'd be surprised if she didn't possess sufficient ability to make a serious splash at group level.

Her trainer Wesley Ward boasts an outstanding record in the Queen Mary, having landed it four times via Campanelle  (2020), Lady Aurelia  (2016), Acapulco  (2015), and Jealous Again  (2009).

He clearly knows what it takes to win this race, and the vibes in the build-up have been good.

Twilight Gleaming, likely to be sent off a warm favorite, isn't the only contender towards the top of the market to be drawn high.

"The race at Belmont is one I center in on with my best five-furlong horse and that's her," said Ward. "We're ready, she's happy and fresh. We're one day out and we're all smiles right now."

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Yet, who showed a good attitude to wear down Orinoco River and win by a neck on her debut at Dundalk last month, is berthed in stall 16.

Ryan Moore should get a nice tow into the race from Twilight Gleaming, and it's a near certainty his mount will improve bundles from that first appearance in which she was sent off 4-1.

Orinoco River, who started evens favorite, and Yet pulled 7 1/2 lengths clear of the third, Cailin Cliste, that day.

The pair renew rivalry on the Royal Ascot stage, and you could also argue Orinoco River, drawn in stall 4, will also get a nice lead on her side of the track by the other U.S. raider, Artos, who starts from box 2.

Her rider Frankie Dettori has dominated the Queen Mary riding honors lately, landing three of the last five runnings courtesy of Campanelle, Raffle Prize  (2019), and Lady Aurelia.

Artos, who was beaten six lengths by Ruthin  on her Keeneland debut in April, showed significant improvement to beat Overbore  by a nose at Churchill Downs last month.

The ground was officially 'firm' that day, and conditions at the Berkshire track probably won't be too dissimilar with baking hot temperatures forecast for the opening two days of the meeting.

It's possible to argue a strong case for the Gavin Cromwell-trained Quick Suzy , who is drawn in stall 22.

Not only is she drawn close to Twilight Gleaming and Yet, but she also possesses proven group form, having finished second in a Naas group 3 last month.

That was on soft ground so she needs to prove her effectiveness under significantly faster conditions, but she's already shown a high level of ability and is going the right way.

Artos Connections Hope for Big Finish

When Frankie Dettori watched back the tape of Artos's win over 5 1/2 furlongs last month at Churchill Downs, he will have been delighted with the speed she showed out of the gate to lead into the turn and the way she finished. 

What happened in between was something of a mystery, as the daughter of Kodiac —a first Royal Ascot runner for veteran Kentucky trainer Rusty Arnold—was overhauled by two rivals and looked booked for no better than third, before being switched out by Julien Leparoux and rallying to snatch success on the line. 

Co-owner Ciaran Dunne said: "I didn't see it live and watching it at home I thought she didn't win and then I'm like, oh my God! You really wouldn't like her to do that again but you'd like her to finish like that.

"Coming out of the turn she lost her action and got in a bit of a shemozzle but Julien said when he got her lined out, she really responded. It's a compliment to her that the horse that finished second, Overbore, came back and won a stakes race.

"Wesley was very high on him (Overbore) going into that race and so she booked her ticket."