Horse Racing

The Lady Is A Champ – Goldikova Owns Queen Anne Stakes

Freddie Head’s unstoppable filly Goldikova gave her trainer his first Royal Ascot victory when she ran her winning race in yesterday’s Queen Anne Stakes. Followed closely by last year’s winner Paco Boy, the five-year-old held onto her lead by a neck, proving herself not only worthy of being the race favourite, but also as one of the most exciting female race horses of our time.

Under the direction of jockey Olivier Peslier, Goldikova broke from the field early on in the race, establishing a solid lead by the time she hit the last two furlongs. However, defending champion Paco Boy, under Richard Hughes, was determined not to let his number one rival get away.

Staging a dramatic campaign to catch up, the five-year-old managed to touch the leader, both of them leaving the remaining contenders far behind – but it was not quite enough. Goldikova’s reputation as a runner who refuses to have the lead taken from her rang true as ever in the Queen Anne Stakes. Although Paco Boy only fell short by a neck, a valiant effort considering the calibre of opponent he was chasing, Head’s favourite girl kept on keeping on to great avail.

Third placing Dream Eater from the stables of Andrew Balding followed a whole 3 ¼ lengths after the leading pair under jockey Jimmy Fortune.

Aidan O’Brien’s Queen Anne Stakes hope Rip Van Winkle, handled as the third favourite runner in yesterday’s opening race, ran to a comparatively disappointing sixth place. Although the four-year-old got off to a promising start he was unable to keep the impressive pace he set early on in the race and even champion jockey Johnny Murtagh was unable to revive his mount’s spirits.

The Queen Anne Stakes are Goldikova’s eighth win in a Group 1 event. This outstanding filly, who can easily rival her United States equivalent Zenyatta, seems intent of cementing her standing as the fastest filly of them all. And much to the delight of trainer Freddie Head and the rest of her connections, she is going the right way about it.

View full results for the Queen Anne Stakes.