GOING UP IN ESTIMATION
   Even the most optimistic of the devout royalist brigade would have predicted a winner for The Queen during Britain's current Diamond Jubilee celebrations, but Estimate (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}) stepped forward to provide the ultimate result when routing the boys in Royal Ascot's G3 Queen's Vase. Part of the injection of new blood into the monarch's breeding operation, the bay, who hails from one of His Highness The Aga Khan's finest staying families, was untested at this extreme trip but her pedigree and the manner of her success in a 12-furlong maiden at Salisbury May 6 suggested she would relish it. Both the hard-headed punters and romantics combined to send the sole filly in the line-up off as the warm favorite, despite some smart colts in opposition, and they were pleased to see her settle into fifth after initially racing keenly when trapped wide in the early stages. Wound up by Ryan Moore on the turn into the straight, both Athens (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) and Ed de Gas (GB) (Peintre Celebre) traveled with elan in behind and she looked a sitting duck as she ground her way to the head of affairs passing the quarter pole. That initiative meant that her ample stamina was employed to the maximum and she dragged the chasing duo out of their comfort zone as she powered clear for an emphatic success. In the process, she was providing her owner with a 21st Royal Ascot winner and Sir Michael Stoute summed up the feeling. "It's a great thing," Stoute said. "We had hoped to do it with Carlton House, but we've done it here and I think the whole country would have appreciated this victory." Estimate's stamina-packed effort led some to question whether she could eventually be a contender for the G1 St Leger, which the Queen won in her Silver Jubilee year in 1977 with Dunfermline (GB). Stoute was pouring cold water on such thoughts, however. "I wouldn't have thought so at this stage," he said. "We will just have to see how she progresses. She's bred to stay, being out of a real Aga Khan staying family with a Gold Cup winner in it. I felt after Salisbury that she could just be a Vase filly. She's improved in her work of late and she's come and done it nicely." The Queen was presented with the trophy by her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, who had been hospitalised for part of the Jubilee celebrations due to a bladder infection.

Friday, Royal Ascot, Britain
QUEEN'S VASE-G3, £60,000, Ascot, 6-22, 3yo, 2mT, 3:34.05, sf.
1--#@ESTIMATE (IRE), 124, f, 3, by Monsun (Ger)
        1st Dam: Ebaziya (Ire) (MSW & MGSP-Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
        2nd Dam: Ezana (Ire), by Ela-Mana-Mou (Ire)
        3rd Dam: Evisa (Fr), by Dan Cupid
O-The Queen; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC; T-Sir Michael Stoute; J-Ryan Moore; £34,026. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, £38,231. *1/2 to Ebadiyla (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), Hwt Older Mare-Ire at 11-14f, G1SW-Ire & Fr, G1SP-Eng, $283,288; Enzeli (GB) (Kahyasi {Ire}), Hwt 3yo-Ire at 14f+, Hwt Older Horse-Ire at 14f+, G1SW-Eng, SW-Ire, $304,892; Edabiya (Ire) (Rainbow Quest), G1SW-Ire & G1SP-Eng, $177,907. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus.* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2--Athens (Ire), 127, c, 3, Dylan Thomas (Ire)--Rafina, by Mr. Prospector. O-Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier, Niarchos Family & Derrick Smith; B-Quay Bloodstock & The Niarchos Family; T-Aidan O'Brien; £12,900.
3--Ed de Gas (GB), 127, c, 3, Peintre Celebre--Sambala (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). O-R A Pegum & Dr C G Lawler; B-Canartam Ltd; T-Rae Guest; £6,456.   
Margins: 5, 1HF, 2. Odds: 3-1, 11-2, 8-1.   
Also Ran: Macbeth (Ire), Minimise Risk (GB), Perennial (GB), Yazdi (Ire), Singalat (GB), Somemothersdohavem (GB), Flying Trader, Repeater (GB), Spanish Wedding (GB). Click for the Racing Post chart or the brisnet.com PPs. Video, courtesy attheraces.com.