Series heroines light up Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes entries

Amazing Maria dances her way to QIPCO Falmouth Stakes success at Newmarket last season. Image courtesy of Racingfotos.com.

Arabian Queen and Amazing Maria, fillies who helped light up the QIPCO Champions Series last year, feature among 41 entries revealed today for the £350,000 Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on May 14.

The David Elsworth-trained Arabian Queen lowered the colours of Golden Horn in the Group One Juddmonte International at York in August, while Amazing Maria scooped the QIPCO Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket before gaining further glory at the highest level at Deauville.

The last filly or mare to win the Lockinge was Red Evie in 2007.

Solow, the highest-rated miler in Europe, has not been entered but Limato, trained by Henry Candy, will make his reappearance in the mile contest, which in recent years has been won by such as Frankel, Canford Cliffs and Farhh.

Unbeaten at two, Limato won on two of his five starts over six and seven furlongs last year including an impressive victory by three and three quarter lengths in the Group Two Park Stakes over 7f at Doncaster in September.

The four-year-old son of Tagula was also runner-up in the Group One Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and the Group One Prix de la Foret at Longchamp in October.

“I am very happy with Limato and he is likely to go to Newbury for the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes,” Candy said today. “The step up to a mile is purely experimental. I really would not know whether he would or wouldn’t get it, but on pedigree I think he should.

“I am happy to go straight to Newbury without a run.”

The British-trained entries also include Royal Ascot scorers Time Test and Dutch Connection, plus Group Two Celebration Mile winner Kodi Bear and Elm Park, winner of the Group One Racing Post Trophy in 2014.

Other eye-catching entries include Sussex Stakes runner-up Arod and international Group One scorers Mondialiste and Euro Charline.

Australian import Vancouver spearheads five entries for Aidan O’Brien. The four-year-old carried all before him in four starts as a juvenile for Gai Waterhouse, culminating with a comfortable victory in the Group One Golden Slipper at Rosehill in March, 2015.