Just hours after her Drakenstein Stud raced and bred relative Little Suzie won the Tote Gr2 Wolavington 2000 at Hollywoodbets Greyville, Gaynor Rupert’s Clayton Park Stud raced and bred Marksman Queen asserted herself early and led every step of the way under Frankie Dettori to defeat Dreaming of Mo by a half-length in Saturday’s 12th running of the $219,665 Listed Keertana Stakes at Churchill Downs.
It was a red-letter day for Drakenstein Stud’s beautifully bred stallion Sharp Frank who gained a handsome update to his pedigree in the process.
Sharp Frank’s close relative Little Suzie, who was produced by the stallion’s champion half-sister Oh Susanna, picked up her biggest win to date when she won the Woolavington.
Frankie Dettori keeps Marskman Queen going to beat Dreaming Of Mo (Laneri) in a rousing finish(Pic – Churchill Downs)
Little Suzie is out of the outstanding Street Cry mare Oh Susanna, South Africa’s Horse Of The Year in 2017-2018, Champion 3YO Filly and Middle Distance Horse of 2017-2018 and Champion Older Female in 2018-2019.
Remarkably, the same day, Sharp Frank and Oh Susanna’s half-sister Marksman Queen won the Keertana Stakes at Churchill Downs.
A five-year-old daughter of Dubawi, Marksman Queen picked up her first black type win when she stormed home, under Frankie Dettori, to land Saturday’s feature by half a length.
Marksman Queen is one of four stakes horses produced by the top-class Sharp Susan, winner of six races including the Gr2 Lake Placid Stakes.
Sharp Frank’s outstanding sire Frankel also enjoyed black type success on Saturday with Frankel filly Victoria Harbour landing the Listed Betgoodwin Height Of Fashion Stakes at Goodwood.
Marksman Queen (GB) stopped the clock in a stakes record 2:26.74 for 2400 over firm turf under Frankie Dettori, who rode the winner for trainer Graham Motion and owner/breeder Gaynor Rupert’s Clayton Park Stud.
Marksman Queen (GB) eclipsed Miss Yearwood’s Keertana time of 2:27.45 in 2023.
“I had two starts with her and I know her better,” Dettori said. “It’s all about the mentality with her. If she’s in a good rhythm, she can do that.”
Marksman Queen (GB) broke well from post No. 5 in the field of eight fillies and mares and dictated the pace of :24.16, :49.27, 1:14.37, 1:39.02 and 2:02.85. Strikingly Spun, the 5-2 favourite, put in a challenge around the final turn to come within a neck of Marksman Queen (GB) but she put that rival away in mid-stretch and held the rest of the field at bay in the final stages for the win.
“When she’s behind horses, she pulls too hard,” Dettori said. “Sometimes when she’s in front, and the outside horses take her on, she gets burnt out. I think today with the smaller field, there wasn’t much speed in the race. So, when she was able to get to the front, she was able to relax. When I got to the three-eighths pole, I thought it’ll be hard to catch her.”
The win was worth $120,280 and improved Marksman Queen (GB)’s career earnings to $232,424 with a record of 4-3-2 in 16 starts.
This was the first stakes win for Marksman Queen (GB), whose 2025 campaign also includes a 10th place finish in the $150,000 La Prevoyante (GIII) at Gulfstream Park in January and a fourth-place effort as the mild 7-2 favorite in a Keeneland allowance on April 18.
Marksman Queen (GB), a 5-year-old daughter of Dubawi (IRE) out of the Touch Gold mare Sharp Susan, was bred in Great Britain by her owner.
Marksman Queen (GB) broke well from post No. 5 in the field of eight fillies and mares.
Strikingly Spun, the 5-2 favorite, put in a challenge around the final turn to come within a neck of Marksman Queen (GB) but she put that rival away in mid-stretch and held the rest of the field at bay in the final stages for the win.
“When she’s behind horses, she pulls too hard,” Dettori said. “Sometimes when she’s in front, and the outside horses take her on, she gets burnt out. I think today with the smaller field, there wasn’t much speed in the race. So, when she was able to get to the front, she was able to relax. When I got to the three-eighths pole, I thought it’ll be hard to catch her.”
The win was worth $120,280 and improved Marksman Queen (GB)’s career earnings to $232,424 with a record of 4-3-2 in 16 starts.
This was the first stakes win for Marksman Queen (GB), whose 2025 campaign also includes a 10th place finish in the $150,000 La Prevoyante (GIII) at Gulfstream Park in January and a fourth-place effort as the mild 7-2 favorite in a Keeneland allowance on April 18.
Marksman Queen (GB), a 5-year-old daughter of Dubawi (IRE) out of the Touch Gold mare Sharp Susan, was bred in Great Britain by her owner.
