True Love powers to Queen Mary first for O'Brien

Trained by Aidan O'Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore, True Love had chased home Tuesday's Coventry Stakes winner and stablemate Gstaad on her latest start and was duly sent off the 9-4 favourite.
True Love took some time to work her way into the race as Zelaina set a scorching early pace, but she stayed on to real effect in the final furlong to beat 100-1 shot Flowerhead, with Patrick Biancone's American raider Lennilu third.
It was win number 93 for O'Brien at the big meeting, although rather surprisingly his first in the Queen Mary.
He said: 'She's lovely and in her first run Ryan came in and said they won't beat her again and then after her second run Wayne (Lordan) said the same thing, that they won't beat her again, and then you have to consider the two that beat her (Lady Iman and Gstaad) are very good horses.
'Ryan gave her a beautiful ride and Michael (Tabor) has always loved her and always spoken about her. It's great as her mother (Alluringly) is in foal to City Of Troy and her sister is in foal to Wootton Bassett so it's marvellous really.
'She was drawn by herself and there was no pace where she was so she had to go and do her own work and that's what Ryan did, he was excellent on her. She was probably strongest in the last half-furlong and when she got going she really powered away.
Another juvenile winner for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore 👏
True Love wins The Queen Mary Stakes ❤️#RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/BYoE2Lr8eI
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 18, 2025
'Ryan said he was a little slow to step and a little on the back foot all the time and I think that's why he was trying to stoke her up a bit, but late on she was really strong.
'She had to work really hard and the only place she was going to get company was out in the middle and Ryan did really well to let her go there. She was under the pump a long way out, but so strong at the line and is obviously high class.
'She's like a four-year-old really and Ryan thought she would be better when she steps up to six furlongs and she's a big, mature filly who walks around the ring like a four-year-old, she's so scopey – she's something to look forward to.'
On future plans, O'Brien added: 'I think we look forward to going up in trip now, the lads will decide that. You would imagine she would have no problem going six furlongs, but she is No Nay Never and he's a big speed influence always.
'The Queen Mary winner seems to always head to Deauville (Prix Morny) or the Curragh (Airlie Stud Stakes) and that would be the two races really or there is the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket in July. That may come too soon, but we will see how she is.'
Flowerhead's trainer Charlie Clover was thrilled to secure a Royal Ascot placing in his first full season with a licence.
He said: 'This is a huge start for us, we were struggling away for the first few months but it's really kicked into gear the past few weeks and it's been a delight to see the whole team find their feet.
'It's only a small team but it's been massively welcome to see these horses run to form and I can't thank (owner) Amo Racing enough, they've done so much for me and my career in helping me get off the ground.
'We liked her at home, we hoped she'd run a nice race but second was a bit of a dream. You can get greedy quite quickly and think you could have won it, who knows?
'I'm delighted to be in the frame and for her to run a big race for owners who are so important to me.'
Biancone plans to head back to America with Lennilu following her run, saying: 'She's only a baby.
'I liked the fact she was the first one off the bridle and she was there at the end, which means she will go a bit further and that is great. We're happy, she fought all the way.
'We go home, we give her a break. The first plan was to try to bring her here which we did, she's Grade Two placed now which is good. She'll have a little vacation and we'll see her in Del Mar.'
The Richard Hannon-trained Harry's Girl was pulled up during the race and it was later confirmed the filly had sustained a fatal injury.

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Tommy Fleetwood leads by three to boost maiden PGA Tour win hopes in Connecticut

South Wales Guardian

2 hours ago

South Wales Guardian

Tommy Fleetwood leads by three to boost maiden PGA Tour win hopes in Connecticut

The Englishman fired a flawless 63, including five birdies and an eagle at the par-five 13th, to reach 16 under par, three clear of American pair Russell Henley and Keegan Bradley going into Sunday's final round at TPC River Highlands in Connecticut. It was Fleetwood's lowest round on the PGA Tour this year – two shots better than his 65 on the final day of the Truist Championship in Philadelphia last month – and just one stroke away from his best ever. Back-to-back days with eagles on 13 for @TommyFleetwood1 🦅 📺 CBS — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 21, 2025 'It (winning) will come down to a bunch of things,' Fleetwood told CBS Sports. 'I haven't been in contention much at all this year, I've been on the outskirts if you like. 'My best finishes have been just outside of being in contention, but like really close. So to put myself there and be in the last group (on Sunday), I'm really happy with that. 'I've been here plenty of times, I'm looking forward to it. I'm happy with the work I've done and happy I've bounced back for the first few days of this tournament from last week (US Open). 'It's just an amazing opportunity for me to go out and enjoy it, and hopefully it's our time.' Fleetwood would be a popular winner as the 34-year-old had the most top 10 finishes on the PGA Tour since 1983 without a win. That number totals 41 – seven more than the second man, Brett Quigley, on that list – but the elusive victory hovered into sight on a curious day when overnight leaders Scottie Scheffler and Justin Thomas went backwards. World number one Scheffler made a triple bogey seven at the first hole and was strangely out of sorts for most of the day. Scheffler signed for a double bogey at the eighth and dropped more shots at the fourth and 16th saw him finish with a 72, nine shots adrift of Fleetwood at nine under par. Thomas went round in 73 with his card wrecked by a quadruple bogey nine at the 13th as he sat 10 shots back at six under. American Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley roared into contention with a 63 to join Henley, who shot 61, on 13 under par. Jason Day is two shots further back. Solo leader Tommy Fleetwood is looking for his first TOUR victory @TravelersChamp 🤩 — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 21, 2025 Rory McIlroy covered the outward nine in 31 to move to nine under par and put his name high on the leaderboard. But the Masters champion took six at the par-four 12th and a birdie at the 15th was quickly cancelled out by a dropped shot at the next. McIlroy starts the final day tied for eighth among a group which includes Scheffler.