Qilin Queen Back on Track for Group 1 Targets After Longchamp Triumph
Simon Sadler’s TBT Racing enjoyed another major moment on the international stage as Qilin Queen returned to winning form with an authoritative success in the Group 2 Prix de Malleret at Longchamp, putting her disappointing Oaks run firmly behind her and re‑establishing herself as a leading Group 1 contender.
Trained by Ed Walker and ridden with confidence from the front by Kieran Shoemark, the daughter of Pinatubo delivered a dominant all‑the‑way performance over a mile and a half, handing previously unbeaten Sunly her first defeat and underlining her affinity for fast ground.
Walker has long believed Qilin Queen belonged at the highest level and admitted that her Oaks disappointment at Epsom had been difficult to take, particularly given the expectations going into the race.
“We were so disappointed at Epsom. We went there with such high hopes,” Walker said. “We walked the track that morning with Simon, Charlie Budget and Ed Sackville and were a bit concerned about the ground. It’s hard on a big day to change your plan, but as it turned out she really didn’t want that soft ground.”
With conditions far more in her favour at Longchamp, confidence was high that Qilin Queen would show her true ability.
“We came here knowing the ground would be nice and quick,” Walker explained. “We were very confident over the trip. She stayed well at Newbury and was flicking her ears back and forward when she won over ten furlongs. When William Buick rode her in the Pretty Polly, he was confident she’d stay a mile and a half, and the family stays well, so we believed in her.”
Sunday’s success also continued a strong record for Walker and Shoemark at Longchamp, where they have previously enjoyed Group 1 victories with Dreamloper, and it opens the door to ambitious plans for the remainder of the season.
“She’s a Group 2 winner now, so we have to be aiming at Group 1s,” Walker said. “She’s in the Yorkshire Oaks, and the Prix Vermeille back here over the same course and distance is also very much on the radar.”
Once considered an outsider for top‑level honours earlier in the season, Qilin Queen now finds herself firmly back among the leading middle‑distance fillies in Europe — a testament to patience, belief, and a team willing to trust the horse under the right conditions.
For Simon Sadler and TBT Racing, the Longchamp victory represents another important step forward, reinforcing the stable’s growing presence at the top end of the sport and highlighting the rewards of taking a long‑term view with elite talent.
