That sole win came at Southwell on 5 April 2026, about six weeks ago, and it mattered. Southwell is an all-weather track in Nottinghamshire, and getting a win on the board there is a legitimate result for a three-year-old still finding her feet. She has raced three times at Class 4 level — one rung below the top half of the racing ladder — without winning at that grade, which suggests the yard are still working out exactly where she fits. The win at Southwell may well have been the moment that answers that question.
What gives City Queen's story its real weight is who is behind her. She is trained by Charlie Appleby at Newmarket, one of the most powerful yards in British racing. Appleby's team has sent out 121 winners already this season — a number that reflects a very large, very well-resourced operation at the top of the sport. For a horse from that stable to be competing at Class 4 level means she is still proving herself, still working her way up. But the form suggests she is heading somewhere. A horse who places as consistently as City Queen, trained by someone with Appleby's firepower, is exactly the kind of quiet improver worth keeping an eye on. She raced just yesterday, so whatever comes next is likely coming soon.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwell Galloping |
3 | 1 win, 2 seconds | 5 Apr | 33.3% |
| Wolverhampton Galloping |
2 | 1 second, 1 third | 18 May | 0% |
| Newmarket Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 22 Aug | 0% |