Royal Ascot 2009

The Queen Anne Stakes (G1), the first race of the meeting, was first run in 1840 to commemorate the monarch who founded Ascot. A field of 9 older horses went to post in this 1 mile straightaway trip for a purse of £250,000 (US $407,600). Gladiatorus was sent off as the 9-4 favorite in the field of 9 over 3-1 second choice Paco Boy and 5-1 third choice Main Aim. Gladiatorus was sent to the front by regular rider Ahmed Ajtebi while being stalked by 20-1 Dream Eater. 10-1 Aqlaam, who stayed on the far outside, moved up to take the lead at the 1/4 pole but Paco Boy, who was in midpack early, took over at the 1/8 pole and drew off to win by 3 lengths over late-running 11-1 Cesare in a time of 1:39.31 over the good to firm course. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back to Aqlaam, while favorite Gladiatorus faded to sixth.

Winning trainer Richard Hannon said, "I think it's put a few old jokers to bed. If he didn't stay a mile he stayed it better than the others anyway. He wasn't quite right at Newbury (Lockinge) and came home with an infection in a foot, he wasn't moving quite right. Now we've had the time to get him right again and I couldn't be more delighted for the little horse. We'll go for the Prix de la Foret, of course, and we were going to whip back to the July Cup if things didn't happen here but we are going to have a rethink now I suppose."