'He's going to have an entry in the St Leger' - Carmers provides Paddy Twomey with first Royal Ascot winner

Paddy Twomey saddled his first Royal Ascot winner when Carmers preserved his unbeaten record to land the Group 2 Queen's Vase under Billy Lee.

The three-year-old landed a Ballinrobe maiden and a Listed Navan event in the space of eight days last month, and the 9-2 shot was always in the front pack behind leaders Shackleton and Spinning Wheel. The pair travelled smoothly on the outside as they swung for home and took it up as soon as they straightened, with Lee seemingly keen to utilise his mount's stamina.

He proved resolute in front, fending off all comers and maintaining a three-quarters of a length advantage over the Andrew Balding-trained Furthur in second and Rahiebb, from the Roger Varian stable, in third.

Dual Group 1-winning trainer Twomey, who saddled Seo Linn to win bumpers at Cheltenham and Aintree last season, was having just his second ever British winner on the Flat after Treasure Trove landed a Listed sprint at York in August 2022.

Twomey's strike-rate in Ireland this year has been a sensational 34 per cent, with his 21 winners coming from 61 runners.

Paddy Twomey (centre): after Carmers provided him with a first Royal Ascot winnerCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"I appreciate being sent nice horses," said Twomey. "It's great he went and did it for Fiona [Carmichael, owner] today. He's a very important horse for her, named after her late husband.

"I knew he'd stay and I knew that Billy looked comfortable turning in. When the bell rang, I thought we had a chance. Staying is his game and he's a pretty good horse."

The winner, who is a homebred for his owner, could develop into a Classic contender for the Tipperary trainer as Paddy Power cut him to 12-1 (from 33) for the St Leger.

Twomey added: "He's done everything we've asked. He's run three times and won three times. He's going to have an entry in the St Leger at Doncaster and we'll see."

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