Astonishing Lady Aurelia wins Queen Mary Lady Aurelia provided American trainer Wesley Ward with his seventh Royal Ascot winner in scintillating style when blitzing her rivals in the Queen Mary Stakes. Ward, who broke new ground by bringing his speedier juveniles to the meeting in 2009, had told everyone who would listen that the filly was the best he had run at the showpiece fixture to date. Mark Johnston's Camargue matched strides coming out of the stalls, but after half a furlong Frankie Dettori was in front on the US raider and the race never looked in doubt. By halfway her rivals were in trouble and when Dettori pressed the button the Scat Daddy filly took off again. She passed the line seven lengths ahead of the French-trained Al Johrah, with Clem Fandango third. Ward won the race 12 months ago with Acapulco, who went on to finish second in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York. Dettori said: "It was breathtaking from the top. To win a sprint by seven lengths at Royal Ascot, I've never seen anything like that - especially from a two-year-old. "I was throwing some very good splits and when I got to the furlong and a half (pole) I asked her to go and she found another gear. I was completely shocked. "Unbelievable, she's a lovely filly. Well done to Wesley, he's a master of the sprinters." Ward confirmed Lady Aurelia will stay in Europe this summer. He said: "She's an amazing filly and she'll have a big future. "I've got the Molecomb (Goodwood) or the Morny (Deauville) in my mind, but I'll talk to the owners and see if they agree." Ward added that the Nunthope at York was not part of the gameplan for the brilliant winner. Harry Herbert, racing adviser to Al Shaqab Racing, owners of Al Johrah, was left gobsmacked by the 2-1 favourite. He said: "I can't believe what I've just seen - a remarkable performance. Al Johrah has run an absolute blinder, but has come across the best two-year-old filly performance I've ever seen in my life. "We're delighted with Al Johrah, who has seen off the rest, but we don't see performances like the winner's very often. "Gregory Benoist said he couldn't believe what was happening in front. He said he knew he had the rest beat, but there was the filly from the other side of the pond." He added: "We were second in the Coventry (Mehmas) and have hit the bar again. She'll get further and we'll see where the winner goes and, like the Coventry, we will avoid the winner at all costs." Keith Dalgleish, trainer of third-placed Clem Fandango, said: "I'm delighted with her. She's run her heart out. She's run straight and true. She handled the ground and the winner looked very special. "She's in the Super Sprint at Newbury off 8st. With that kind of money, if she's right at the time, we'll probably go there but I'll speak to Middleham Park (owners) and see what they would like to do."
