Absolutely The Winner!
Wed 22 May 2024
WINNER 36 OF 2024: ABSOLUTE QUEEN trained by George Boughey and ridden by Billy Loughnane: The 'Best Odds Guaranteed At Yeeehaaa.Bet Handicap' over 1m 4f at Brighton.
The Brighton seafront was getting a deluge of rain during the meeting and although the official going description of Good to Firm might have been appropriate at the start of the meeting, as each race took place, the more mud splattered the jockeys silks became and owners umbrellas were a welcome addition!
The field of 10 were taken along at a strong pace, with Absolute Queen travelling nicely towards the rear. Making headway 4f out, she was ridden to chase the leader coming down the centre of the home straight. Moving into second at the 2f pole, she kept on well and won going away to win by 5 lengths.
Watch the full race replay here: https://www.attheraces.com/racecard/Brighton/21-May-2024/1550
Timeform rated it as a career best 85 performance, saying: "After 10 weeks off, had dropped below last winning mark and bounced back to form returned to turf with the cheekpieces left off, probably better than ever in fact; missed the break, held up, steady progress from 3f out, led around 1f out, forged clear; it'd probably make sense to try to get her out under a penalty next week, likely to take the beating if in the same form."
Billy said in his post race interview: "The rain is getting into the ground now. She's a filly who prefers the grass and after a freshen up it has worked the oracle. She has done that nicely and is a filly that stays further, so I was keen to get rolling from 3 down and she quickened away well."
See the official photo gallery here: https://brightonracecourse.zenfolio.com/p750077745
Read the Racing Post story, here: https://www.racingpost.com/news/reports/that-wasnt-a-surprise-absolute-queen-relishes-conditions-to-record-impressive-third-success-under-billy-loughnane-aIo2I3N6ZWJC/
Syndicate manager Mike says: "That was a good, well judged ride by Billy, as he let them get on with it upfront and played the waiting game, with the filly responding well to the line. Well done to her owners on her third win - on checking her form this morning, she has been in the top three in 50% of her flat races, which is not bad. Thank you George!"