Homebred 2yo Running Queen wins well

Though defeat for Running Lion was hard to swallow after she hit 1/100 in-running in the Gr.2 Dahlia Stakes on Sunday, the Howden family had a near-instant tonic when another homebred carrying their colours, Running Queen, made all in a 2yo fillies’ conditions race at Salisbury 15 mins later.

Running Queen had shown plenty of ability against colts at Newbury on debut and she was sent off 10/3 against two previous winners in the Kingsclere Stud Fillies’ Conditions Stakes over 5f on Sunday.

With Oisin Murphy riding at Newmarket, Cieren Fallon stepped in and gave Running Queen a peach of a ride to get across to the front from the widest stall. As well as bags of pace, she showed a willing attitude to hold previous winners Betty Clover and Convo at bay.

Running Queen is trained by Ollie Sangster and is by Kingman out of Speightstown mare Farmah, a dual Stakes-winning sprinter who was purchased for 500,000gns by David Redvers on behalf of David Howden at the Tattersalls December Mare Sale in 2021.

Running Lion made a very promising return when second in the Dahlia and now has the option of the Gr.3 Princess Elizabeth Stakes on Derby Day at Epsom, as well as the Gr.2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot. She looks set for a big year.

Both Running Queen and Running Lion were born, raised and grazed at Tweenhills.