THE Queen had a winner at Redcar today – and celebrated with an ice cream in the winner’s enclosure.

Chestnut gelding Patchwork, trained by Richard Hughes at Lambourn, justified odd-son favouritism under Shane Kelly in a three-horse race over seven furlongs.

After the race, the royal win was marked with a cardboard cut-out of Her Majesty, with a race-goer treating her to an ice cream in the Redcar sunshine.

Earlier, emotional scenes greeted the winner of a race named in memory of a much-loved couple.

The Pat and Les Holmes Celebration Maiden Fillies’ Stakes was won in fine style by Golden State, trained at Lambourn by Archie Watson, and ridden by Danny Tudhope.

Family and friends of Pat and Les, of Darlington, were out in force at Redcar to remember the couple who both died of cancer.

Pat died six years ago and Les, a former machinist at Rothmans, died in January. On Les’s death-bed, his sons, Andrew Chris and Steven, promised they would name a race after him and their mother.

“He knew he was dying but his face lit up when we told him,” said Andrew. “If it was possible in any way, they’d be here with us now because they both loved coming to Redcar.

“Everyone at Redcar Racecourse has treated us so well and the plan now is to hold the race every year to keep their memory alive.”

Golden State proved too good for the better fancied Newmarket raiders Spinnaka and UAE Queen, an only mount for Andrea Atzeni, and won cosily.

Most impressive winner of the day was Mark Johnston’s three-year-old filly Khamarry, who bolted up by seven lengths in The Racing UK Straight Mile Series Fillies’ Handicap Stakes. She may not have beaten much but couldn’t have done it better and is now unbeaten in her only two races – both at Redcar.

The trainer’s wife Deidre said: “She’s very straightforward and was impressive. There are no immediate plans ¬– we’ll just see what happens.”

Excessable, trained at Malton by Tim Easterby and ridden by David Allan, ran out a ready winner of The racinguk.com/daypass Handicap Stakes. Michael Dods’ Dakota Gold was a gallant runner-up after missing the break under an 8lb penalty for winning at Thirsk and will surely be winning again soon.

Luis Fernandez, trained at Hambleton by Kevin Ryan, took the opener under a driving finish from Kevin Stott. The two-year-old colt had showed plenty of promise in finishing third over five furlongs at Beverley on his debut, and the experience showed as he got up by a head over the extra furlong.

The winning margin was just a head from David O’Meara’s Chatburn but Luis Fernandez won a shade cosily in the end.

While favourite-backers were still rubbing their hands after the first race, Ebitda, trained at Retford by Scott Dixon, sprang a 25-1 surprise in the second race, comfortably holding Glyder under a confident ride by Luke Morris.

Former champion Silvestre De Sousa made a busy trip north worthwhile when holding off Tread Lightly on Shambra in The racinguk.com Handicap Stakes.

The eighth race of the day was won narrowly by David O’Meara’s Clenymistra, holding on under Danny Tudhope from the strongly finishing Single Estate.