Carmers collects in Queen’s Vase for Paddy Twomey

Carmers maintained his unbeaten record with a determined display in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot.

A first runner at the Royal fixture for trainer Paddy Twomey, the Wootton Bassett colt had been successful on his two previous starts at Ballinrobe and Navan and was a 9-2 shot to complete his hat-trick in this one-mile-six-furlong Group Two.

Always to the fore in the hands of Billy Lee, Carmers took over from Shackleton rounding the home turn and answered his rider’s every call to repel the staying-on pair of Furthur and Rahiebb, with three-quarters of a length the winning margin.

“I knew he’d stay and I knew turning in that Billy looked comfortable,” said Twomey.

“I was happy to see a horse come up alongside him and help him at the front, he looked comfortable when the bell rang and I knew he had a chance.

“I think staying is his game and I think he’s a pretty good horse.”

Ladbrokes installed the Fiona Carmichael-owned winner as the 8-1 second-favourite for the Betfred St Leger, and Twomey added: “He’s done everything we’ve asked, he’s obviously going to have an entry in the Leger at Doncaster – we’ll see.

“He’s done what was asked of him today, he’s run three times, he’s won three times and hopefully he continues to win.

“We’ve nice horses, we’ve good owners and it’s fantastic to be able to bring them here.

“It’s nice to have good horses to win on the big days for a small stable.”