QATAR Racing have made another Irish acquisition to their Royal Ascot squad, as the prominent owners have privately purchased Gavin Cromwell’s Queen Mary Stakes hope Mighty Eriu.

It was revealed yesterday that Sheikh Fahad Al-Thani’s operation had snapped up Denis Hogan’s recent Ebor trial runner-up Tyson Fury to run in the Copper Horse Handicap over a mile and six furlongs on Tuesday, and they now have another fresh contender for next week.

A highly-promising second on her debut at the Curragh last week behind Coventry Stakes possible Tunbridge Wells, Mighty Eriu will bid to continue her trainer’s extraordinary record at the Royal Meeting next Wednesday. Remarkably, Cromwell has won with both of his two previous Royal Ascot runners, Quick Suzy in the 2021 Queen Mary and Snellen in last year’s Chesham Stakes.

Mighty Eriu, previously owned by Eoin Hughes, Nigel O'Hare and Kiva Cromwell, is set to be the trainer's only two-year-old runner at the 2024 meeting.

Cromwell told The Irish Field: “We had a couple in contention for the Queen Mary Stakes but I’m only going to send Mighty Eriu. She’s a nice filly, a good type, and she’s going to run for Qatar Racing, who have bought her. She’s still with us and this will be our first runner for the owners. We're looking forward to it.”

Fresh from his best National Hunt season yet, the dual-purpose trainer has had his string in terrific form in recent months, saddling 28 winners in the last seven weeks under both codes.

One of his smarter jumpers, My Mate Mozzie, could also be on the boat to Royal Ascot if managing to sneak in at the bottom of the Copper Horse Handicap.

“Hopefully he gets in, though we always kind of knew we’d be on the border,” said Cromwell.

“Maybe the rain might help to cut it up a small bit. I’m happy with him. This has been the plan for a while. I know he’s off a career-high mark on the flat but he’d be at the bottom of the weights if getting in. He’s in good form.”