Australian bred Starspangledbanner made it two Royal Ascot stakes-winners in two days when his filly Anthem Alexander captured the Group II Queen Mary Stakes overnight following on from his colt The Wow Signal winning the Group II Coventry Stakes on Tuesday.

Sixth on debut at The Curragh last month on very heavy ground, the Edward Lynam trained filly improved sharply at her second run on a good surface over five furlongs at Tipperary to dash away and win by seven lengths.

That win prompted connections to aim higher with pleasing results.

Taken to the front more than a furlong from home by Pat Smullen, Anthem Alexandra fought on to the line to win the five furlong sprint by a neck in a big field of 21.

"She's brave and very quick," Smullen said. "She was a little bit sluggish away from the gate.The gap was closing up, so I had to take it, which was maybe even a little bit too soon for her.

"She's still a little bit green, there's a lot of improvement in her.She could have given up if she was weak-minded but she's 100 per cent tough."

UK Racing Post were positive in their assessment of the filly - ANTHEM ALEXANDER clocked a fast time when bolting up by 7l at Tipperary on her previous start, and she was a well-backed favourite to follow up here. Last off the bridle, she quickened nicely and found enough to hold off her rivals late. She´s a half-sister to Dandy Man, who had a frustrating time of it at Ascot, never winning but running several big races in defeat, including three top four finishes in the King´s Stand Stakes. It wouldn´t be a surprise to see her return for one of the big two sprints next year, but in the shorter term her trainer nominated the Cherry Hinton as her likely next race.

Retained to race by her breeder Noel O’Callaghan after passing in at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Anthem Alexander is the fifth winner from Group III winning Night Shift mare Lady Alexander, whose offspring are headed by brilliant Group III winning sprinter Dandy Man, while two of her daughters have left stakes-winners Hamza and Alkasser.

A four-time Group I winning son of Choisir, Starspangledbanner is now based at Rosemont Stud in Victoria where he will cover a limited book of 50 mares this spring.

Check out Starspangledbanner’s stallion profile on Bloodstock.com.au by clicking here