Racing plans made by Queen Elizabeth II just days before she died lead to Newmarket victory
The Queen’s planning before she died sees winner at Newmarket(Image: Getty Images)
Queen Elizabeth II is having an extraordinary winning impact on favourite sport horse racing – from beyond the grave.
The Queen may have died four years ago but one of the very last things she did was to summons her racing adviser to decide on a mating plan for her horses.
That advance planning led to the birth of a horse called Portcullis which enjoyed a sensational start to its career at Newmarket. Portcullis, owned by King Charles and Queen Camilla, won the Betway Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes
But they have the former Queen to thank for the success John Warren, racing adviser to the royal family. He said: “I was with Queen Elizabeth II the weekend before she died when I proposed these matings to her, so the skeleton was in place.
The Queen’s planning before she died sees winner at Newmarket(Image: Getty Images)
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“After she died, I took the mating plan to the King and Queen in November to see if they liked the idea of the list, so I’d call it a joint effort by all, which is nice.
“If I’m being really honest, I’m excited. I’m trying not to be as we’ve been through this hoop a number of times but I can’t help it.”
Ryan Moore riding Portcullis win The Betway Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes at Newmarket(Image: Getty Images)
Racehorse owner Rupert Adams, whose own horse is called Thank You Ma’am in honour of Queen Elizabeth said: “This shows just how committed the late Queen was to the racing industry. “She loved the sport. The fact that one of her final decisions before she passed away is being felt in racing today is incredible. She is having an impact even thought she died four years ago. Portcullis is part of her racing legacy.
The Queen’s planning before she died sees winner at Newmarket(Image: WireImage)
“Every time the horse runs we will think of Queen Elizabeth II.” Warren added: “He’s really exciting and he looks like he has got some nice aspirations ahead . Ryan Moore (jockey) was very complimentary.
“He gave a comment that went something like ‘you can be brave’. The King and Queen are getting so much pleasure out of this. I didn’t think they would – I thought the Queen might but I thought the King would be caught up in so many other things. They give so much so it’s nice they can have a few little pleasures.”
Racehorse owner Rupert Adams pays tribute to the late Queen(Image: DAILY MIRROR)
The horse’s trainer John Gosden said: “The simplest thing is to go in small steps and go into a novice with a penalty and get more experience. He can learn to be in the gate with other horses and race properly and if he wins that, then you can start shooting higher.”
Portcullis’s dad is the legendary Frankel and mum is the French 1,000 Guineas winner Castle Lady. It’s thought that Portcullis will definitely race at the Queen’s favourite meeting Royal Ascot which takes place in June in the middle of this summer’s football World Cup.
King Charles and Camilla are expected to attend along with other members of the Royal Family.