Smullen taking day two by storm

Anthem Alexander justified her tall home reputation with victory in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Trainer Eddie Lynam was eager to go for this five-furlong event after her win at Tipperary earlier in the month and it was easy to see why as she arrived on the scene full of running under Pat Smullen a quarter of a mile out.

Asked to go about her business just over a furlong from home, the 9-4 favourite was pressed by another Irish raider in Newsletter, who kept her honest all the way to the line before just losing second to Tiggy Wiggy, who was a neck down on the winner.

Smullen, who was recording a quick double after Mustajeeb in the Jersey Stakes, said: "She's bred for it and she's very, very quick.

"Today she was a little bit sluggish away from the gates, just through lack of experience. The gap was closing in front of me a furlong and a half down, I had to take it and I was probably there too soon, but she's a very fast filly.

"She's still a little bit green and there's a lot of improvement in her.

"She could have given up if she was weak-minded, but she's genuine and tough and stuck it out well to the line.

"She's another good Eddie Lynam sprinter."

Lynam said: "She's the real deal and she'll get better. We haven't had her an awful long time. Noel O'Callaghan (owner) was very kind to give her to me and he was very brave as everyone was trying to buy her. I'm delighted, as when you refuse money for a horse you need a bit of luck.

"I think she's a very good filly and she'll probably go for the Cherry Hinton (at Newmarket), but I'll talk to Noel."

Richard Hughes, rider of the runner-up, said: "I was unlucky they went so quick. At halfway she just struggled a bit, going from running on heavy ground to that. She came off the bit and I hit a flat spot for a furlong and a half and then when I really got into her and made her go she put her head down."

Tiggy Wiggy's trainer Richard Hannon said: "There's a massive difference between winning and being placed in these races, we'll just have to go home and make her faster! There'll be plenty of good days for her during the season and she has run a super race. She can easily go six furlongs now."

Trainer Ken Condon said of the 33-1 third Newsletter: "We always liked her a lot and after she won a maiden at the Curragh she just wasn't herself at Naas so we put a line through that. We're delighted for her, and we could look at something like the Cherry Hinton."