Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1)

Nulty

Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1) (CLASS 1) (4yo+) Winner £141,925
Good 1m Number of runners: 10

Card
Betting

(Draw) Horse
(4) Calming Influence
(9) Cat Junior
(8) Dalghar
(10) Dream Eater
(7) Ouqba
(6) Paco Boy
(2) Pipedreamer
(5) Rip Van Winkle
(3) Zacinto
(1) Goldikova



It appears at first sight that there are three horses in this race and even those can be predicted in their finishing positions.

Calming Influence come here off the back of a good run in the Godolphin Mile at Meydan. Its not quite clear what hes capable of but the odds and his current mark suggest he needs to improve heavily to figure. While its not imposible, as a five year old he looks exposed. Anothe big run however could see him pick up some prize money. While having a decent strike rate al Zaroonis worst stats are with 4yo+.

Cat Junior has been just short of top notch his whole career. After chasing Henrythenavigator home in the St. James Palace in '08, his only success other than a maiden came in Meydan wining a G3 on Tapeta. Unlikely he's going to start improving now.

Dalghar is the French challenger. A 4yo whos been first or second in 5 of 7 career starts, he looks like he hasn't shown his best yet. Its interesting that he's been brought over to challenge Goldikova and the likes but has a very good opportunity to break the good sequence he racked up. May make the frame but asking a lot. Should be the biggest test he's likely to face
Addition:
Dalghar is half brother to Dalakhani and Daylami and by the same sire as Goldikova. He broke the 7f track record at Longchamp and by all accounts hacked up in a G3 on his last outing on the 5th of June.

Dream Eater has been tried at this level numerous times and biggest success coming in a Listed race last year. Would need some horses to run out if was going to win IMO. Consistent but not up to the level.

Ouqba has promised to be a good horse for a while now and last time showed he was better than his odds suggested, giving Paco Boy a fright in the Lockinge. Paco Boy had plenty more on that day and looks to be holding the promising Ouqba. that was first time out for the now 4yo and I think he's a lively outsider to improve and pick up some good prizes during the year. The manner of Paco Boys performance that day suggest it wont be today.

Paco Boy has turned from 7f to 8f with succes and has a couple of goods successes already this year coming into the Queen Anne. A horse in form is a dangerous horse and hes rightly near the top of the market. Hannon is bang in form this year and there should be no problems for Paco Boy should he run to form, he will need to improve a little to get past the market protagonists though as he was well held by Rip van Winkle in last years Sussex.

Pipedreamer is a G2 winner on Sft in France over 10f. He hasn't been tried at 8f much and its probable that Kevin ryan knows he won't win a G1 at that distance. He drops back to the mile in hope of improvement and while consistent in his run, hes not prolific and probably needs a lot to go right for him. May lack pace againt the top milers in the world.

Rip van Winkle has been laid off for 220 days and will need to be race fit if hes going to take this. O' Brien has had an unusually lean spell this year but Fame and Glory hasn't shown any drop in form. That horse did need a couple of runs to get back to fitness and thats the worry for punters with Rip. will O' Brien have him spot on? He's one of the best milers of his generation and if hes fit he will surely be in the places.

Zacinto badly disappointed in the Lockinge, trailing of to finish last after being eased. No clear reason found for that disappointing run and a massive turn around will be needed if hes to be competitive. He blew up at Santa Anita chasing Goldikova home on the last start of '09 and perhaps there is something wrong with the horse that hasn't been detected. He lines up here with a chance if he reverts to the form that saw him second to Rip van Winkle over course and distance in October last year.

Goldikova, the super mare, dual winner of the Breeders Cup Mile, and unbeaten over a mile in seven consecutive G1s bar her first try, going down to the incredible Zarkava. Shes at the top of the market at around 13/8 and looks to have the race at her mercy. Race fit after pleasing win over 9f at Longchamp its really difficult to oppose her. Her biggest threats are the ones with something to prove and with the mares allowance as always she almost looks like a good thing. It doesn't always work out like that though and if the others are ready, she will know shes had a race what ever the outcome.

Whats going to happen?

mailburner

im a goldikova fan
she's never let me down so ill back her again tomorrow

id definitely have her over paco boy

x PyRo

Goldikova easily IMO, Bar an unbelievable run from RVW or Paco. She's a machine.

mailburner

mailburner wrote: »

im a goldikova fan
she's never let me down so ill back her again tomorrow

id definitely have her over paco boy

she's still never let me down
paco ran an amazing race
i underestimated that one
thought it was a case of how far when
she took it up

oppiuy

Paco may have won if he'd got out a little earlier but Goldikova... what a liitle cracker of a horse

x PyRo

The best horse definitely won. She went to the front way to early and still won, Stunning.