Goldikova's
eagerly-anticipated clash with Canford Cliffs looks set for Tuesday, with the
two star milers both among the early entries for the Gr1 Queen Anne Stakes,
opening event of the five-day Royal Ascot festival, which runs from June 14
through Saturday, June 18.
Breeders’
Cup Mile multiple champion Goldikova, a winner of 13 Gr1 stakes, including last
year's Queen Anne, is set to be accompanied by her pacemaker Flash Dance, who
is also among the eight early entries for the Queen Anne.
Canford
Cliffs, who took the Gr1 St James's Palace Stakes on the same Ascot card 12
months ago and started off this season with success in the Gr1 Lockinge Stakes
at Newbury, could be joined once again by his Richard Hannon-trained stablemate
Dick Turpin.
Ireland’s
champion trainer Aidan O'Brien has only one option in the shape of Cape Blanco,
while his old adversary Saeed Bin Suroor has entered Rio De La Plata for
Godolphin.
Ransom
Note and Cityscape complete the field.
"Canford
Cliffs is in terrific form and we are all looking forward to meeting
Goldikova," Hannon said on his website.
"The
French mare is a legend, but racing is all about competition and let's hope we
have a great race.”
The
early betting offered by British bookmakers is evenly split between the pair;
some favoring Canford Cliffs at odds of 11/10, while others make the Freddy
Head-trained Goldikova a 6-5 favorite.