By Sean Cronin
Godolphin's homebred Victory Queen (GB) (Kingman {GB}) backed up a half-length debut triumph at Newmarket's Craven meeting with a narrow victory, racing under a six-pound penalty, in Wednesday's Darley British EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes on the Royal Ascot trials undercard.
The February-foaled half-sister to the ill-fated dual Group 1 winner Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), whose Apr. 15 debut success came over the same one-mile distance at HQ, broke sharply and made an immediate impact on the front end. Enjoying a soft lead at a moderate tempo for the most part, the 3-1 second choice came under pressure when threatened soon after turning for home and was driven out inside the final furlong to withstand the late charge of the unlucky-in-running 6-4 favourite Gulya (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) by a short-head.
“She has backed up just two weeks after her first run and win, so I was very happy with that,” commented William Buick, who rode the winner's dam to a career high in the 2015 G3 Oh So Sharp Stakes. “It wasn't necessarily the plan to lead, it was just the way it unfolded, and she responded well. She's pretty quick, but is still learning and will get quicker. She still feels like she's got a bit of maturing to do and I think she's a miler for now. You'd have to think a mile-and-a-quarter will be within her grasp in time, but it's a pretty speedy family all through.”
Victory Queen is the latest of four foals, all winners, produced by G3 Oh So Sharp Stakes victrix First Victory (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), herself kin to five black-type winners headed by multiple Group 1-winning dual Dubai World Cup hero Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}), dual Group-winning G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Fillies' Mile third Ihtimal (Ire) (Shamardal) and stakes-winning G1 Sun Chariot Stakes runner-up Always Smile (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}). Her second dam Eastern Joy (GB) (Dubai Destination) is a half-sister to G1 Prix de Diane heroine West Wind (GB) (Machiavellian). The February-foaled homebred bay is a half-sister to the ill-fated G1 2000 Guineas and G1 St James's Palace Stakes winner Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).
The gap appears a stride too late for Gulya, who can't get to Victory Queen (Kingman x First Victory) in the Darley British EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes at @Ascot!@WilliamBuickX | @godolphin pic.twitter.com/qmDeaCM31w
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 30, 2025
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