Maqaasid (right) edges out Meow near the line in the Queen Mary

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker/racingpostpix.com  

Maqaasid strikes blow for Gosden and Hills

Report: Royal Ascot, Wednesday

Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2) 5f, 2yo

MAQAASID lived up to expectations to get John Gosden and Richard Hills off the mark at Royal Ascot this year after the fillycame with a strong run to get up near the line.

Sent off the 9-4 favourite, Maqaasid did not let her backers down as she weaved her waythrough the pack on the farside rail to mow down long-time leader Meow at the line with Ladies Are Forever running on for third.

Maqaasid's victory - in a course-record 59.17sec - was a first in the race for Gosden and another royal success for the trainer, Hills and owner Hamdan Al Maktoum.

A delighted Gosden said: "It got very fast out there and for two-year-old fillies to run 59 and one, for those of you that follow times, is extremely fast.

"She's run great. The Storm Cat filly [Meow] that led is extremely fast and there is a tailwind. She's a six-furlong filly really and I think this was a little sharp for her.

"She relaxes very well, we didn't teach her that she was just like it, but when she sees daylight she just goes. She's a Green Desert out of a Storm Cat mare so I want tokeep her mentally settled so my assistant rides her out and I trust him."

Johnny Murtagh remains without a win at this year's meeting despite the gallant effort of Meow in second.