Campanelle Meet’s First American Winner in Queen Mary

ASCOT, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND – Stonestreet Stables’ Campanelle became the first American-based winner of the 2020 Royal Ascot Meet when she came home strongly to take Saturday’s Queen Mary Stakes (G2) on Day 5.

Sent away at 5/1 odds stateside under Frankie Dettori, Campanelle tracked within striking range while running along the far outside rail. Sardinia Sunset flashed early pace from the center of the track and Caroline Dale led the group closest to the inner rail.

As the pace quickened 2 furlongs out, Campanelle began to advance. Sacred became the new leader momentarily as the field crossed the 1-furlong marker, but Campanelle was only just behind her and looming dangerously.

Sweeping up to steal the lead with a 1/2-furlong remaining, the Wesley Ward trainee stayed on through the wire, winning the 5-furlong sprint over the good going in 1:01.18.

“Wesley told me Campanelle had a tendency to lean right, so he was very happy to have the right rail next to me, but she went straight as a gun barrel and she won really well,” Dettori said. “Wesley leaves tactics up to me, but she was in the stalls for a very long time and she lost a bit of concentration. She jumped a little bit slow, but they went so fast and I was able to be on the flank of the field and find my own pace. I had plenty of horse left at the 2-furlong marker and, in fairness, she quickened up really well. She has got a very sensible racing head. She did everything I asked of her and it was a good performance.”

Sacred held second by 2 1/2 growing lengths over Caroline Dale, while a weakening Sardinia Sunset held fourth in a tight photo over Happy Romance, Scarlet Bear, Grammata, Mamba Wamba, and More Beautiful (the American-bred 4/5 stateside favorite).

Dickiedooda, Star Of Emaraaty, Pelekai, Sands Of Time, Wings Of A Dove, Risque, The Good Ting, the winner’s stablemate Royal Approval, and Sparkling Perry completed the order of finish. Nurse Florence and Dandalla (winner of Friday’s Albany Stakes [G3]) were non-runners.

A superb performance from Campanelle from stall one as she quickens smartly to land the Queen Mary Stakes 🏆

An 11th Royal Ascot winner for US trainer Wesley Ward 🇺🇸

And a fourth winner of the week for @FrankieDettori #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/SO34IfYTFC

— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 20, 2020

Campanelle’s win was her second from as many starts, having broken her maiden over the Gulfstream Park turf on May 31 by 3 1/2 lengths. The Irish-bred Kodiac filly was purchased for $243,773 at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in 2019.

“There is nothing like Royal Ascot,” Ward said. “We didn’t have a winner last year and we had a streak going. We’ve been trying our best. I can’t thank everyone enough for giving me such a talented filly from where started at Stonestreet Stables. It is amazing and Frankie Dettori rode such a brilliant race, as he always does. I have got my assistant Blake Heap there and we’ve got a wonderful team assembled in Florida – words just can’t describe it right now.”

Campanelle returned $13.80 to win and $4 to place, Sacred brought back $4.20 to place, and Caroline Dale paid $43.40 to place.