Godolphin’s highly rated stable jockey James Doyle is quietly confident that Barney Roy can claim another major Royal Ascot prize when he lines up in the Group 1 £600,000 Queen Anne Stakes (1 mile) on Day One of the 2019 Royal Ascot Carnival in England.

Trainer Charlie Appleby saddled up Cross Counter, above, to win the 2018 Melbourne Cup at Flemington. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Five year old Barney Roy was successful during the 2017 Royal Ascot Carnival when he beat the three year olds in the Group 1 £400,000 St James’s Palace Stakes (7 furlongs, 213 yards).

Doyle is keen to see the Charlie Appleby trained Barney Roy head back to Royal Ascot after he showed a great turn of foot with a return to the winner’s stall in the Listed €52,000 Prix De Montretout (1600m) at Longchamp in France on May 23.

“Longchamp was a very tactical race that probably didn’t see him to best effect. But he did what I didn’t think he was capable of doing before which was quickening instantly,” Doyle told the Racing Post.

“I know it was against inferior opposition, but he had less than a furlong to quicken up and lead.

“It seems mad that he broke the track record in the St James’s Palace because as a three-year-old, you always had to wind him up.”

“He didn’t show an instant turn of foot which he did the other day. He’s an exciting horse and definitely one I’m looking forward to.”

Barney Roy will jump from gate three in the sixteen horse Queen Anne Stakes field which will run over the straight mile course at Royal Ascot and the five year old is sharing the second line of betting at Ladbrokes.com.au at $6.50 with the Aidan O’Brien trained Le Brivido behind Mustashry who is the $6 favourite for the Queen Anne Stakes.

Mustashry is coming off a last start win in the Group 1 £350,000 Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury in England on May 18 while Le Brivido finished fifth in the same race.