Top-Rated Miler Palace Pier Heads Queen Anne

What better way to kick off Royal Ascot than with the best miler in the world, Palace Pier ? Officially rated 125, one pound superior to Hong Kong champion Golden Sixty, the John and Thady Gosden-trained 4-year-old will look to back up a thoroughly impressive victory in last month's Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (G1) at Newbury in the festival opener, the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) on June 15. 

The Queen Anne is part of the international Breeders' Cup Challenge Series and will award the winner a berth in the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

The seven-time winner's only defeat in eight starts came over this course and distance in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1) on Champions Day, but a loss of a shoe on bottomless ground was pinned as a viable excuse. Other than that, Palace Pier has proved untouchable.

He readily fended off Pinatubo  and Wichita  in a hot running of the St. James's Palace Stakes (G1) last summer and has stamped his authority on the division ever since. Finding holes in his form is as hard as you would imagine. The only negative is his prohibitive price.

The majority of punters will consider Palace Pier a non-betting entity at around 2-5. Each-way value is readily available in the relatively small field, so who will pick up the pieces if Palace Pier disappoints?

His main dangers on ratings are provided by Ballydoyle in the shape of Order of Australia  (120) and Lope Y Fernandez  (117). The first-named is the choice of stable jockey Ryan Moore, though that indicates little more than personal preference given the amount of times lesser-fancied Aidan O'Brien-trained runners cause "shocks."

Order of Australia is fresh off a six-month absence since he crossed the globe. His first stop was Keeneland, where he produced a career-best performance to win the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile Presented by PDJF at 40-1. He then went to Hong Kong, where Golden Sixty was in a league of his own.

"It's Order of Australia's first run since Hong Kong in December, but he seems fine and we're very happy with him. We're looking forward to seeing what he can do over a mile this season and the track should suit him," O'Brien said.

Lope Y Fernandez's claims seem more realistic despite him finishing eighth in the Lockinge. Although he has won just once since a stellar juvenile campaign, Lope Y Fernandez has regularly filled the minor places in group 1s, including when second in the Qatar Prix Jean Prat (G1) last summer. He finished a length behind his stablemate at the Breeders' Cup but endured a worse trip.

"Lope Y Fernandez didn't like the ground in the Lockinge and he'll be much more at home on this sort of surface," O'Brien added.

You will be looking at double-figure prices for the rest of the field, which is headed by Lockinge third Top Rank . The unexposed gray has seven lengths to find with Palace Pier on that showing and has never run at Ascot. It's hard to envisage him eroding that deficit and therefore his place claims are questionable.

Accidental Agent , winner of this race in 2018, and Lord Glitters , who was successful 12 months later, bid to regain their crowns at the ages of 7 and 8. Their task is put into perspective by the fact no horse older than 6 has won the Queen Anne in the last 50 years.

Hold-up performers who will pass beaten rivals in the final furlong could be the value play for each-way wagers. Course-and-distance winner Bless Him  gave weight and a beating to group 1 scorer Lord North  in 2019 and will be played late. Sir Busker , who has risen up through the handicap ranks, is another worth a second look given form figures of 143 over this course and distance.

Will the Favorite Deliver?

Palace Pier will bid to become the shortest-priced winner of the Queen Anne Stakes since the mighty Frankel  opened the royal meeting with a bang back in 2012.

He will not start as short as Frankel at 1-10 but Palace Pier's superiority over his rivals on official ratings is reflected in his price, which was no bigger than 4-9 on the eve of the race.

Since Frankel's remarkable 11-length success, Toronado , Solow , Ribchester , and last year's winner Circus Maximus  have all been successful market leaders in a race where 21 favorites or joint-favorites have won in the last 75 runnings.

John Gosden, who trains Palace Pier in partnership with his son Thady, has been perfectly satisfied with the preparation of this year's hot favorite. 

"We started him off earlier than intended at Sandown as he was so fresh at home and he came through that nicely and followed up at Newbury," said Gosden. "We've been pleased with him since and Frankie has sat on him a couple of times. He's versatile as regards ground, enjoying everything from good to firm through to soft.

"He's drawn 11 of 11 which is not ideal as you always prefer to be in the middle rather than stuck on the wing but hopefully he'll overcome it."