True Love powers to Queen Mary first for O'Brien

The Herald Scotland

4 hours ago

True Love took some time to work her way into the race as Zelaina set a scorching early pace, but she stayed on to real effect in the final furlong to beat 100-1 shot Flowerhead, with Patrick Biancone's American raider Lennilu third.
True Love looked the part (John Walton/PA)
It was win number 93 for O'Brien at the big meeting, although rather surprisingly his first in the Queen Mary.
He said: 'She's lovely and in her first run Ryan came in and said they won't beat her again and then after her second run Wayne (Lordan) said the same thing, that they won't beat her again, and then you have to consider the two that beat her (Lady Iman and Gstaad) are very good horses.
'Ryan gave her a beautiful ride and Michael (Tabor) has always loved her and always spoken about her. It's great as her mother (Alluringly) is in foal to City Of Troy and her sister is in foal to Wootton Bassett so it's marvellous really.
'She was drawn by herself and there was no pace where she was so she had to go and do her own work and that's what Ryan did, he was excellent on her. She was probably strongest in the last half-furlong and when she got going she really powered away.
Another juvenile winner for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore 👏
True Love wins The Queen Mary Stakes ❤️#RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/BYoE2Lr8eI
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 18, 2025
'Ryan said he was a little slow to step and a little on the back foot all the time and I think that's why he was trying to stoke her up a bit, but late on she was really strong.
'She had to work really hard and the only place she was going to get company was out in the middle and Ryan did really well to let her go there. She was under the pump a long way out, but so strong at the line and is obviously high class.
'She's like a four-year-old really and Ryan thought she would be better when she steps up to six furlongs and she's a big, mature filly who walks around the ring like a four-year-old, she's so scopey – she's something to look forward to.'
On future plans, O'Brien added: 'I think we look forward to going up in trip now, the lads will decide that. You would imagine she would have no problem going six furlongs, but she is No Nay Never and he's a big speed influence always.
'The Queen Mary winner seems to always head to Deauville (Prix Morny) or the Curragh (Airlie Stud Stakes) and that would be the two races really or there is the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket in July. That may come too soon, but we will see how she is.'
Flowerhead on her way to post at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)
Flowerhead's trainer Charlie Clover was thrilled to secure a Royal Ascot placing in his first full season with a licence.
He said: 'This is a huge start for us, we were struggling away for the first few months but it's really kicked into gear the past few weeks and it's been a delight to see the whole team find their feet.
'It's only a small team but it's been massively welcome to see these horses run to form and I can't thank (owner) Amo Racing enough, they've done so much for me and my career in helping me get off the ground.
'We liked her at home, we hoped she'd run a nice race but second was a bit of a dream. You can get greedy quite quickly and think you could have won it, who knows?
'I'm delighted to be in the frame and for her to run a big race for owners who are so important to me.'
Biancone plans to head back to America with Lennilu following her run, saying: 'She's only a baby.
'I liked the fact she was the first one off the bridle and she was there at the end, which means she will go a bit further and that is great. We're happy, she fought all the way.
'We go home, we give her a break. The first plan was to try to bring her here which we did, she's Grade Two placed now which is good. She'll have a little vacation and we'll see her in Del Mar.'
The Richard Hannon-trained Harry's Girl was pulled up during the race and it was later confirmed the filly had sustained a fatal injury.