Undefeated Frankel will get the Royal Ascot meeting started off with a bang when he faces ten challengers in the $542,500 Queen Anne Stakes (Eng-I) June 19.
The eight-furlong contest is the first of three straight group I races on the opening day card of the superb five-day race meet. The Royal Ascot meet is being aired on TVG, with daily coverage from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. EDT
Frankel, a 4-year-old son of Galileo, will be going for his 11th career victory. The Queen Anne will be the second start of the year for the Juddmonte Farm-colorbearer, who stormed to a decisive victory in the JLT Lockinge Stakes (Eng-I) last month. Regular partner Tom Queally will be aboard for Sir Henry Cecil.
Frankel will be joined by his three-quarter brother and pacemaker Bullet Train, a 5-year-old horse by Sadler’s Wells. Bullet Train is a group III stakes winner in his own right, but has been used primarily as a pacemaker for his younger brother for the past year. Ian Mongan will be in the irons.
One of Frankel’s chief rivals is a very familiar nemesis. Excelebration has lined up against Frankel on four separate occasions, and has finished second to him three times. A group I winner last year at three, the son of Exceed and Excel has made two starts since being transferred to Aidan O’Brien’s yard, notching a victory in the Gladness Stakes (Ire-III) before coming in second to Frankel in the Lockinge.
Joseph O’Brien will be in the saddle.
Trainer Richard Hannon sends out Strong Suit, who will be making his first start of the year. The 4-year-old son of Rahy won three of his six starts last year, which included victories in the Burj Khalifa Challenge Stakes (Eng-II) and Bet365 Lennox Stakes (Eng-II). The chestnut was narrowly defeated in the Prix Jean Prat (Fr-I), finishing third by just a head to Mutual Trust. Strong Suit will be ridden by Richard Hughes.
Frankie Dettori will be aboard Sir Mark Prescott’s Worthadd. The 5-year-old horse by Dubawi enters the Queen Anne off a fourth-place finish in the Investec Diomed Stakes (Eng-III). Prior to that, he was an easy winner of the Badener Meile (Ger-III).
Trainer Christian Wall will send out the hard-knocking Premio Loco in the Queen Anne. The 8-year-old gelding has won 14 of his 33 lifetime starts, and is a multiple group II-winner. Premio Loco has only raced in group I company twice but acquitted himself nicely, finishing a close third to Canford Cliffs each time. George Baker will ride.
$542,500 Queen Anne Stakes (gr. I, race 1, 9:30 a.m. EDT), 8 furlongs, (turf). All carry 126 pounds.
PP, Horse, Jockey, Trainer
1. Strong Suit (KY), R. Hughes, R. Hannon
2. Worthadd (Ire), L. Dettori, M. Prescott
3. Excelebration (Ire), J.P. O’Brien, A.P. O’Brien
4. Red Jazz (FL), M. Hills, C. Hills
5. Side Glance (GB), J. Fortune, A. Balding
6. Bullet Train (GB), I. Mongan, H.R.A. Cecil
7. Windsor Palace (Ire), J.A. Heffernan, A.P. O’Brien
8. Frankel (GB), T. Queally, H.R.A. Cecil
9. Helmet (Aus), M. Barzalona, M. al Zarooni
10. Indomito (Ger), W. Buick, A. Wohler
11. Premio Loco (KY), G. Baker, C. Wall
Frankel
AP Photo