Valixir Upends Last Year's Champion Miler Rakti in Queen Anne

Valixir, a group I winner in France in his last start, made it two straight with a victory in the mile Queen Anne Stakes (Eng-I) over last year's English champion older miler Rakti. The June 14 feature race on Royal Ascot's opening day drew 10 contestants, and it was Valixir getting to the wire 1 1/2 lengths in front of 5-6 favorite Rakti (by Polish Precedent) after being challenged two furlongs from the finish. Starcraft (by Soviet Star) was third. Time for the race, 1:36.64, was about a half-second faster than the St. James's Palace Stakes (Eng-I) on the same card.

Bred by S.N.C. Lagardere Elevage, Valixir earned $299,552 of the $451,650 purse for his owner, the Aga Khan. The son of Trempolino was ridden by Christophe Soumillon, who was aboard him in the May 22 Prix d'Ispahan (Fr-I) last time out, and is trained by Andre Fabre. Trempolino stands in France at Haras du Mezaray.