Karl Burke has been the man to follow in the Queen Mary Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot over the past three years. He saddled Dramatised to win in 2022 and Leovanni was successful last year, while he also had Beautiful Diamond (GB) finish third in between. Miss Lamai (IRE) took fourth 12 months ago to boot.
Punters have latched on to his apparent first string this year and Zelaina is a threat to give the stable yet another success on June 18 following an impressive debut victory at Nottingham. She bolted up by 2 3/4 lengths on that occasion and is expected to improve.
If it hasn't been Burke, then it has been the Americans. Wesley Ward has won this three times in the past ten years, and George Weaver broke the Burke stranglehold two years ago with Crimson Advocate. Neither Ward nor Weaver is in the Queen Mary, but Patrick Biancone has made the trip with Lennilu.
Biancone was famous in Europe in the 1980s when saddling top-class horses such as Triptych, Sagace, and All Along to land big group 1 prizes, but has never trained a Royal Ascot winner. The Frenchman is aiming to finally fulfil that ambition at the age of 73 with Lennilu.
The daughter of Leinster will be Biancone's first runner at Royal Ascot in nearly three decades, but the trainer has left no stone unturned in preparing his filly and has been bullish about her chances in the American media. It will be fascinating to see if she can remain unbeaten. Luis Saez rides.
"She won her maiden easily. We then decided to train her, hopefully for the Queen Mary, and we won the prep race easily, too," Biancone said. "She's not an anxious horse; she's very relaxed. I've been lucky in my life to have good horses, and she's one of them. We're very happy.
Lennilu, owned in partnership, is the third favorite behind True Love and Zelaina.
American Tough Critic Seeks Windsor Castle glory
This is the final renewal of the Windsor Castle Stakes over five furlongs before the Flat Pattern Committee's changes come into effect in 2026, which will see it contested over six furlongs.
Aidan O'Brien's runner is the place to start in this division, and while his record in this contest isn't as striking as his 10 wins in the Coventry Stakes (G2) or his seven in the Chesham Stakes, he's still won three in the past decade.
O'Brien has First Approach, who didn't back up his maiden win when beaten nine lengths in the Marble Hill Stakes (G3). However, he couldn't get cover, failing to settle as a result, and was forced to race away from the favored stands' rail throughout.
"He might have found six furlongs too far last time, and coming back to five (furlongs) will help," O'Brien said.
Representing the United States is New Sweepers' Tough Critic, a New York-bred son of Carvaggio trained by Weaver.
"We've been very pleased with how he has handled the traveling and how he's been training in Newmarket since he arrived," assistant trainer Blair Golen said. "He blew the start but still managed to win on his debut at Keeneland, and we think he'll enjoy a fast track like Ascot.
