Weight of history against Docklands in Queen Anne
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Mon 15 Jun 2026
Harry Eustace concedes the weight of history and a deeper field than last year mean the odds are stacked against Docklands repeating his Queen Anne Stakes success of last year.
However, the Newmarket handler insists his star performer will not go down without a fight as he bids to become the first horse in 119 years to land a repeat blow in the meeting’s curtain raiser.
“It has been a very long time since anyone went back-to-back, but that is probably because a lot of them retire to stud,” said Eustace, who has rebooked Australian jockey Mark Zahra for the attempt to emulate Dean Swift, the last repeat winner in 1907.
“But we are all very happy with him and looking forward to seeing where he fits in in what is probably a stronger renewal than last year. It has all been very positive since his last run in Hong Kong and we are drawn well in the middle.”
Charlie Appleby holds a couple of aces in his hand with impressive Lockinge Stakes scorer Notable Speech and Opera Ballo, winner of the Group Two bet365mile at Sandown in April.
While Notable Speech has two failures at the Royal meeting in his back catalogue – in the St James’s Palace Stakes at three then when fourth to Docklands in this race 12 months ago – Charlie Appleby says the deeply impressive Lockinge winner seems a different horse this time round.
“Notable Speech is in great order. He went into the Lockinge on the back of a frustrating run in America, so there hasn’t been a massive amount of improvement since Newbury, but he is as good as he has ever been,” Appleby told the Godolphin website.
Notable Speech was brilliant in the Lockinge (Steven Paston/PA)
“People have a question mark against him at Ascot, which in some respects is fair because he is zero from two there, but I think on both occasions we did not have the rub of the green you need at this level.
“It looks as though conditions will be in his favour and, if he can put the Ascot hoodoo behind him, he should take all the beating.”
William Buick stays loyal to Notable Speech with Billy Loughnane on Opera Ballo. Appleby was impressed with the latter on his seasonal reappearance at Sandown, but feels Ascot’s mile will suit less well.
“The straight mile will be more of a challenge for Opera Ballo compared to Sandown and Meydan, although he has done very well mentally and physically since his last start,” he said.
“He was very impressive when making the running at Sandown, and it will be up to Billy on the day to see what sort of horse he has underneath him, but hopefully he can take a lead this time.”
Zeus Olympios is no forlorn hope (Bradley Collyer/PA)
Zeus Olympios beat Opera Ballo in the Group Two Joel Stakes at Newmarket last September to finish his three-year-old season unbeaten but has been third to the two Godolphin horses at Sandown and then Newbury.
“We decided to have a go at the Sandown race with a penalty and he ran well, but was beaten by a very fit horse who they had changed up the tactics with and we got a bit tired,” said trainer Karl Burke.
“He went into the Lockinge in good form but was beaten by an exceptional horse on his day in the other Godolphin horse. He’s a horse with a turn of foot for 100 yards at the moment and we probably used that up half a furlong too soon.”
Burke added: “I think he’s high class, obviously a Group One contender and hopefully he’ll get his Group One somewhere along the line.”
Damysus was another left choking on Notable Speech’s exhaust fumes in the Lockinge, finishing a disappointing sixth – a run which connections are keen to put a line through.
Damysus bids to put a below-par effort in the Lockinge behind him (David Davies for The Jockey Club/PA)
“Days like Newbury can happen, they are animals and individuals and James (Doyle) is his biggest fan and just wasn’t happy that was the true Damysus,” said Richard Brown, representative for owners Wathnan Racing.
“We hope there is improvement to be found at Ascot but there will need to be as this is a top race.
“It’s the Queen Anne it will take a huge amount of winning, but I don’t think he will be out of place and deserves to take his chance. He’s a horse we’re all very fond of and we’re looking forward to seeing him run there.”
More Thunder has two lengths to find with Notable Speech at Newbury having chased the winner home in second but connections feel there could be improvement to come from the five-year-old.
“We’re very happy going over a mile. If you look at the last run in the Lockinge he was finishing very strongly and it is a stiffer track so it should be perfect for him,” said Philip Robinson, representative for owner Saeed Suhail.
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