Able Friend Headlines Queen Anne Stakes Field

The 2015 Queen Anne Stakes field has been released and Able Friend is set to face seven rivals in the Group 1 event at Royal Ascot tomorrow night.

John Moore is thrilled with the condition of Able Friend heading into the 2015 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot tomorrow. Photo by: Daniel Costello

John Moore is thrilled with the condition of Able Friend heading into the 2015 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot tomorrow. Photo by: Daniel Costello

Able Friend was allocated barrier seven for his European racing debut and he will be chasing his seventh straight victory after taking out the Group 2 Jockey Club Mile (1600m), Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m), Group 1 Stewards Cup (1600m), Group 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m), Group 2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600m) and the Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) during a most impressive winning streak.

Trainer John Moore arrived in England on the weekend and he told The Racing Post that he could not be happier with Able Friend heading into the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes (1609m).

“I’ve just arrived and I’m delighted with what I’m seeing – he looks a picture of health,” Moore said.

“He’s been the best traveller, he’s eaten up, he’s drunk up, he’s enjoyed the gallops, he has his pick of grass for an afternoon, so what more could you ask leading into the race.

“It’s been problem-free.”

Able Friend will take on seven talented rivals in the Queen Anne Stakes and he is set to face his stiffest competition in the form of Freddie Head-trained galloper Solow.

Solow is also chasing his seventh straight victory in the Queen Anne Stakes and he stamped himself as the leading contender for the race with a dominant win over The Grey Gatsby in the Group 1 Dubai Turf (1800m) ay Meydan on March 28 and he backed that up with a comfortable victory in the Group 1 Prix D’Ispahan (1850m) at Longchamp on May 24.

Another Group 1 winner that has been included in the 2015 Queen Anne Stakes field is Godolphin galloper Night Of Thunder, who finished second behind Kingman in the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes (1609m) at Royal Ascot last year.

Night Of Thunder returned to racing with a tough victory in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes (1609m) at Newbury on May 16 and he is currently available at Queen Anne Stakes of $6.

The only other runner that is available at single figure Queen Anne Stakes odds is Richard Hannon-trained Toormore, who has been a consistent performer without winning at Group 1 level in the past 12 months.

Toormore finished in the placings in the Group 2 Lennox Stakes (1408m) at Goodwood on July 29, the Group 2 International Topkapi Trophy (1609m) in Turkey on September 7 and the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (1609m) last year before he returned to racing with a second place finish in the Lockinge Stakes.

The Queene Anne Stakes field is rounded out by Cougar Mountain, Glory Awaits, Here Comes When and Esoterique.

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.