Thursday, 20 June 2019: 13/2 chance Kimari (John Velazquez) came agonizingly close to giving her US-based trainer Wesley Ward an 11th Royal Ascot success, finishing second by a head to Raffle Prize in the G2 £110,000 Queen Mary Stakes. Ward has already won the race three times.

"What are you gonna do?" he shrugged. "Obviously she likes the soft, which was a big concern beforehand, as Lady Aurelia did [Ward's 2016 Queen Mary Stakes heroine and also winner of the 2017 G1 King's Stand Stakes]. 

"If I hadn't had the success I've had in the past with being in the winner's enclosure here, I'd be elated. I'm proud that she ran so well. I'll talk to the owners and make a plan as to what we do next, but the good thing is that she likes the soft - that isn't going to be a concern."

Bill McEroy, racing manager for the owners Ten Broeck Farm and purchaser of Kimari  , said: "It's up to Wesley what we do next. It's heart-breaking - that's twice. 

"Sunset Glow [trained by Ward] got nipped on the wire five years ago in the Albany Stakes. For it to happen to Kimari as well is tough to swallow. 

"She's a great filly. It's tough to come the whole way here - you need everything to go your way and the ground to be good and in your favour. That did not happen."

Saeed bin Suroor commented about the 6/1 favourite Final Song, who ran on in the final furlong to take third: "She ran well - I am happy with her.

"Final Song ran a big race, but I think she needs further - six or seven furlongs.

"She looks like a filly with a good future and there may be some Group races coming up for her in France."