ASCOT, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND – Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum’s Palace Pier, the world’s top-ranked thoroughbred race horse, left no doubt regarding his superiority with a triumphant win in Tuesday’s Queen Anne Stakes (G1), the opening race of the 2021 Royal Ascot meet at Ascot Racecourse.
The Queen Anne is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” event, with Palace Pier receiving an automatic berth in the turf Mile at Del Mar this November.
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Palace Pier was the prohibitive 1/9 betting favorite stateside as he broke from the barriers under Frankie Dettori and settled mid-pack early. Trained by the father-son duo of John and Thady Gosden, Palace Pier responded when prompted with approximately 2 furlongs remaining.
Taking the lead a fulong out, Palace Pier drew off to win his second consecutive Royal Ascot meet event following last year’s St James’s Palace Stakes (G1). The 4-year-old Kingman colt’s updated record of 8-7-0-1 includes 5 wins at the Group 1 level.
Lope Y Fernandez, Sir Busker, the 2019 champ Lord Glitters, Pogo, Top Rank, the 2018 victor Accidental Agent, Order of Australia, Bless Him, Regal Reality, and Prince Eiji completed the order of finish.
Palace Pier returned $2.40 to win and $2.02 to place. Lope Y Fernandez brought back $5.60 to place. Sir Busker paid $7.60 to place.
