Signora springs shock in Queen Mary Signora Cabello narrowly prevailed in a blanket three-way finish to the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot. A big-priced winner of a Listed race at York last time out, the powerful Phoenix Thoroughbred organisation bought a three-quarter share into the filly. Still in the care of John Quinn and ridden by Oisin Murphy, the daughter of Camacho was sent off at 25-1 on this occasion, and was never far from the pace. Aidan O’Brien’s Gossamer Wings and the Clive Cox-trained Shades Of Blue were late challengers, but it was the northern raider who prevailed by a short head and the same. Wesley Ward’s favourite Chelsea Cloisters never threatened at any stage under Frankie Dettori. Quinn said: “All she did, really, was improve. She was well on top at the line (at York) and since then she’s trained lovely. “She’s very unassuming. She’s terribly, terribly tough. I’m really pleased.” The Malton trainer went on: “She was a huge price. When she won at York she was well on top at the line. She didn’t deserve to be her price, but she didn’t know what price she was. “She is very laid back at home, but she does help you. Even when Her Majesty was coming in and the band struck up she kept walking round and it never bothered her. “She has a very good mind and she has got plenty of ability. “We thought she would finish in the six. There were nice fillies and well-bred fillies and fillies that had won all over Europe, so the form was hard to put together. We felt she was in good nick and she did the rest. “They (Phoenix) bought into her about two weeks ago. The original guys have still got 25 per cent and they are on holiday in Barbados watching the cricket! “My son Sean found the filly at Newmarket as he loved the pedigree. She was from book three for 20,000 guineas. She’s in everything, including the Super Sprint, but she is a Queen Mary winner now.”
