THE clash everyone was hoping would kick off Royal Ascot on June 14 is
set to become a reality after Goldikova’s trainer Freddie Head revealed
to the Racing Post the wonder mare would take on Canford Cliffs in the
Queen Anne Stakes.
The contest – the first of three Group 1s that guarantee the royal meeting starts with a bang – was last yearwon by Goldikova on her first visit to the course. But after the record-breaking six-year-old made a successful return in the Prix d’Ispahan eight days ago, Head refused to commit to another crack at Ascot, saying: “I won’t be drawn now”.
However, now the decision has been made to send theWertheimers’ 13-time Group 1 winner to the Queen Anne again, it gives Britain’s champion trainer Richard Hannon and jockey Richard Hughes another shot at the French superstar, who beat that duo’s Paco Boy by a neck in last year’s Queen Anne.
Head said on Sunday: “We are going to Ascot for the Queen Anne. She has come out of the d’Ispahan very well and will improve for that run.”
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