Racing: Queen Mary promotion

Two races at Royal Ascot, the Coventry Stakes and Queen Mary Stakes, have been promoted from Group Three to Group Two status. There is also a new one-mile Group Two race at Royal Ascot for fillies and mares aged four and upwards, which has yet to be named.

The European Pattern Committee has upgraded a total of 18 British races for the forthcoming Flat season on turf. The changes include two more Group One races as part of moves to persuade owners of top-class fillies to keep them in training. The Falmouth Stakes in July and the Sun Chariot Stakes in October, both staged at Newmarket, have been upgraded from Group Two level.