2026 Queen Anne Stakes: runner-by-runner guide and tip
By Nic Doggett
Last Updated: Wed 17 Jun 2026
Nic Doggett takes a detailed look at all nine runners in this year's Royal Ascot curtain-raiser and shares his big race verdict.
1 CICERO’S GIFT
Muhaara – Terentia (Diktat)
T: Charles Hills. J: Jason Watson. Draw: 6. Best Odds: 40-1
Probably dangerous to dismiss his 100-1 success in October’s QEII Stakes as a fluke, but no doubt it was a clear career-best performance which came on the back of a run-of-the-mill listed success at Sandown.
Caught the eye in defeat under a 5 lb penalty back there on his reappearance, making up ground on the rail once the race – won by Opera Ballo - was over, but less encouragement (too keen) when only seventh behind Notable Speech in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury last month.
Best performances have come on softer ground, so connections will be a little frustrated by the lack of rain that was forecast at the end of last week, but could run well at a big price now back on Ascot’s straight course (also ran well under a big weight in the 2024 Britannia Stakes over C&D).
Cicero's Gift winning on Champions Day (Pic: focusonracing.com)
2 DAMYSUS
Frankel – Legerete (Rahy)
T: John & Thady Gosden. J: James Doyle. Draw: 3. Best Odds: 16-1
Last year’s Dante runner-up who quickly put his subsequent Epsom flop behind him with a listed win at Deauville and nine-furlong Group Three Darley Stakes win at Newmarket.
Continued winning run with straightforward reappearance win in the Earl Of Sefton over the same C&D in April (nice turn of foot conceding weight to all), so slightly disappointing that he couldn’t fare better than sixth when sent off second-favourite for the Lockinge last time.
Went forward from a wide draw that day, and was arguably a shade too keen, so should still be of some interest here with the stiff finish likely to suit his large stride.
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3 DOCKLANDS
Massaat– Icky Woo (Mark Of Esteem)
T: Harry Eustace. J: Mark Zahra. Draw: 4. Best Odds: 7-1
Three runs here as a three-year-old included a near-last-to-first success in the Britannia Stakes, and has since continued his love affair with the course, not out of the first two in his next four starts here including a runner-up effort in this race in 2024 and then a nose defeat of Rosallion 12 months ago.
Only fourth behind Cicero’s Gift in the QEII in October, not getting as clear a run through as the winner, and has held his form well since in a number of countries, filling third behind My Wish in the Champions Mile at Sha Tin when last seen in late-April.
This likely to have been a mainstay of his race programme for some time, and commands plenty of respect in his title defence as a result.
Harry Eustace has a tremendous record at Royal Ascot
4 FIRST CONQUEST
Teofilo – Patroness (Dubawi)
T: Charlie Appleby. J: Ryan Moore. Draw: 2. Best Odds: 50-1
Has a good record fresh, but overall form leaves him lacking as he has nearly two lengths to find with Damysus on their Darley Stakes run and over five to find with Opera Ballo on their clash in a Meydan Group Two back in December.
Keen-going sort who is likely to be ridden to pick up the pieces on this first start for six months, but hard to see him playing a major part despite the positive booking of Ryan Moore.
5 MORE THUNDER
Night Of Thunder – Buying Trouble (Hat Trick)
T: William Haggas. J: Tom Marquand. Draw: 9. Best Odds: 4-1
Won over a mile and a quarter for Sir Michael Stoute on his second start in May 2024, but switch to William Haggas led to a change of tact, winning four of his next five starts over six/seven furlongs, his only defeat when beaten a head by a very speedy front-runner in the Wokingham Stakes here.
Wide draw no help at all on Group One debut when dropped in last and struggling to get seriously involved on very testing ground in the Prix De La Foret on his final start last term, form that’s working out okay at a lower level.
Again came from off the pace when closing for a never-nearer second behind Notable Speech in the Lockinge, a tremendous effort on his seasonal reappearance/first attempt at a mile considering he was quite fresh early on, and should relish the test here.
Notable Speech was ahead of More Thunder and Zeus Olympios (yellow) in the Lockinge (Pic: focusonracing.com)
6 NOTABLE SPEECH
Dubawi – Swift Rose (Invincible Spirit)
T: Charlie Appleby. J: William Buick. Draw: 1. Best Odds: 15-8
Saw plenty of action as a three-year-old, with three runs that year already under his belt prior to winning the 2000 Guineas. No match for Rosallion and co in the St James’s Palace at this meeting the following month, but back on track with Sussex win at Goodwood in July.
Took a while to find his feet fully last season (fourth in this race; pulled hard, had to wait for a run), but added a brace of North American Grade Ones by the end of the calendar year, showing his trademark turn of foot on each occasion.
Unable to show his best when encountering traffic problems (nowhere to go) at Keeneland in April, but made the most of plenty of room on Newbury’s straight mile when winning the Lockinge in style last month, again having found some traffic issues as the race developed.
Might again give supporters more than a moment’s worry, but William Buick knows him well, and he clearly possesses a lethal burst of speed that many in this line-up won’t be able to cope with.
Watch: Is Opera Ballo's defeat of Field Of Gold and Zeus Olympios a key piece of form?
7 OPERA BALLO
Ghaiyyath – Dubai Opera (Invincible Spirit)
T: Charlie Appleby. J: Billy Loughnane. Draw: 7. Best Odds: 4-1
Appeared to benefit from a more conservative approach when missing the Guineas in favour of listed assignments last season, though those listed wins have turned out well, beating Bay City Roller and then Seagulls Eleven.
Undone by pedestrian gallop when second to Zeus Olympios in the Joel Stakes later that term, but flourished over nine furlongs in Dubai over the winter, and then proved his mettle with a comprehensive dispatching of Field Of Gold (despite giving away 5 lb) in the Group Two Mile at Sandown on his reappearance in April.
That front-running effort suggested that he has grown up plenty (used to pull hard) and interesting that connections have targeted this race rather than last month’s Prix Aga Khan IV (Prix d'Ispahan) despite having a leading contender in Notable Speech. Respected.
8 TEN BOB TONY
Night Of Thunder – Hug (Dark Angel)
T: Ed Walker. J: Kieran Shoemark. Draw: 8. Best Odds: 66-1
Only beat three home in Notable Speech’s 2000 Guineas win and took time to find his feet after, his next win not coming until his reappearance the following season when beating solid yardstick Kinross in the seven-furlong John Of Gaunt Stakes at Haydock.
Ran well when third (one place ahead of More Thunder) in the Foret, but overall level of form – including when keeping on well to win the latest John Of Gaunt (now at Epsom) 10 days ago – leaves him with plenty to find on much different ground (has twice been a non-runner on quick going).
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9 ZEUS OLYMPIOS
Night Of Thunder – Rhea (Siyouni)
T: Karl Burke. J: Clifford Lee. Draw: 5. Best Odds: 9-1
Latecomer to the track who made large strides towards the end of last season, following up Group Three Superior Mile Stakes win at Haydock with two and a quarter length defeat of Opera Ballo in the Group Two Joel Stakes at Newmarket just 20 days later.
Not given a hard time when no match for that same rival on his reappearance at Sandown in April, “a few kilos heavier than he was last year” according to his trainer, and back to near best despite being keen from stall one when third behind Notable Speech in the Lockinge last month.
Only had six starts and likely to pick up a Group One win before the end of his career; this looks another tough assignment, but easy to argue he’s overpriced compared to some of those who have finished ahead of him this season.
Verdict
Nic Doggett
Finished: 2ndSP: 7/2
An intriguing race to kick off the meeting, with Opera Ballo, Zeus Olympios and Damysus all likely to be towards the fore in a race that lacks an out-and-out front-runner.
That might work against the likes of Notable Speech and Docklands who have both got fine turns of foot, but the hope is that MORE THUNDER will be able to cope with a stop/start race given he has done most of his winning over sprint trips.
He split Notable Speech and Zeus Olympios at Newbury, but both of those had race fitness on their side, and he’s expected to progress plenty this year for an owner whose patience was often rewarded with the horse’s previous trainer Sir Michael Stoute.
1. MORE THUNDER 2. DOCKLANDS 3. NOTABLE SPEECH
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