Homecoming Queen Slashed To Complete Classic Double

Following her eye-popping nine-length romp to victory in the Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, on Sunday, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Homecoming Queen is now as short as 5/1 (from 33/1) with some firms to add the Investec Oaks at Epsom, on June 1, to her runaway success in the first fillies’ classic of the season, writes Elliot Slater.

Seeing was believing, as the unconsidered 25/1 shot led from start to finish on the Rowley Mile, belying her seemingly modest credentials to blast a good field apart, never looking in any danger from three furlongs out, at which point she was already eight-lengths clear.

With Ryan Moore later admitting that he thought he might have gone off too fast, and it was unlikely any three-year-old filly could maintain such a gallop, Homecoming Queen simply kept on piling on the pressure.

One by one, her rivals fell away, leaving the Ballydoyle filly, a half-sister to the mighty Dylan Thomas, to come home in splendid isolation, well clear of Starscope and the hot favourite, Maybe, her somewhat humbled and previously much higher-regarded stable companion.

Being a half-sister to the great Irish Derby, King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner, there are few doubts that the daughter of Holy Roman Emperor should stay further.

However, a less attacking approach will surely have to be taken at Epsom, if she is to have a strong chance of seeing out the extra half-mile. Are you following the Investec Derby? Have a bet on horse racing at www.betvictor.com.

O’Brien initially mentioned the Irish 1000 Guineas and hinted at the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, next month, so it is far from certain that at this stage of her career, and having shown such blinding and sustained speed, Homecoming Queen will be asked to stay further.

Wherever she goes, if presented in the same kind of form, the new star of the fillies division will surely be very hard to catch. Take a punt on Homecoming Queen with online betting on racing at Bet Victor.