Latest News

Decorated Knight: first 2yo runner of the season is a winner. Photo – Bronwen Healy

Decorated Knight‘s first two-year-old runner of the year, Ferrari Queen, turned heads on Saturday with a highly impressive debut win at Doncaster.

Trained by Mark and Charlie Johnston on behalf of Jaber Abdullah, Ferrari Queen swept down the outer in the hands of David Egan and was never challenged, ultimately lengthening clear to win the 7f maiden by six lengths.

Bookmakers responded by introducing Ferrari Queen at 33/1 for the 1,000 Guineas and 40/1 for the Oaks.

The commentators were waxing lyrical about the filly following the race and David Egan was similarly impressed.

“Yes, that was impressive,” he told Sky Sports Racing. “She was a little bit raw beforehand, so it was more about giving a nice introduction. Gradually as I took her off the bridle, she was learning all the time on the job and she’s hit the line very strongly – we nearly ended up by the mile-and-a-quarter start. I couldn’t be more pleased with her. 

“Hopefully she’ll live up to her name! She was impressive, especially given how green she was in the prelims. She’s impressed me with how easy she found it, even though she went through that green spot between the three and the two. She got the hang of things pretty quick and galloped out all the way to the line.” 

The filly was bred by the Irish National Stud out of the Danehill mare Katch Me Katie, also dam of the high-class stayers Nearly Caught and Pale Mimosa. She was purchased by Mark Johnston at last year’s Goffs Orby Sale.

She continues the purple patch enjoyed by Decorated Knight, for whom the past month has featured promising wins by Knight Of Honour, who won easily in good company at Goodwood for John and Thady Gosden, Kind Gesture, who won at the second time of asking for Prince A A Faisal and Roger Varian at Wetherby, and Shahnaz, a winner for Gemma Tutty at Hamilton Park.

Decorated Knight‘s productive patch also includes the recent Danish 2,000 Guineas winner Charming Knight.