Qilin Queen

Her biggest moment came at Newbury on 17 May 2025, where jockey Hollie Doyle rode her with real confidence — trainer Ed Walker had told Doyle to be bold, and it paid off. Walker had been disappointed after a previous run at Newmarket, where Qilin Queen struggled with the famous dip in the track and found one rival simply too sharp. Newbury suited her better, and her willingness to keep galloping when it mattered most was the difference. She can be a little fizzy in the paddock beforehand — Walker admits she's "a bit buzzy" — but he doesn't see it as a problem, just part of her character.

Walker trains out of Upper Lambourn in Berkshire, and his yard has been in fine form this season with 76 winners already on the board. He clearly thinks Qilin Queen has more to offer at the very top level — he has spoken about targeting Group 1 races, with options including the Nottinghamshire Oaks or the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket. If she doesn't prove competitive enough in Britain's top races, there is even talk of taking her across the Atlantic to race on grass in America, where fast, dry ground and her neat, well-balanced stride could be real advantages.

Her recent form reads 7-4-8-1-3-2 — that is, looking at her last six races from most recent to oldest. The 7th and 8th places sit awkwardly in there, but the runs either side of those — including her Class 1 win and a place just days ago — suggest those dips were blips rather than a trend. She is active right now, having raced just one day ago, which means whatever comes next is already being mapped out. For a horse with genuine top-level ambitions and a trainer willing to be bold about it, Qilin Queen is worth keeping an eye on.