Opera Ballo collared close home in G1 Queen Anne Stakes

Opera Ballo was caught in the closing strides as he finished a close third behind Ten Bob Tony and More Thunder in the G1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot on Tuesday, 16 June.  

Having made all when dominating the G2 bet365 Mile on his previous start, Opera Ballo was again quickly into his stride and was sent on by Billy Loughnane into a two-length lead over First Conquest, with Notable Speech settled behind the leaders in fourth.

First Conquest started to fade three furlongs out as Opera Ballo found plenty in front to see off the challenge of Damysus over a furlong from home.

Ten Bob Tony and More Thunder closed on both sides of Opera Ballo inside the final half-furlong, with Ten Bob Tony finishing best of all to score by half a length.

More Thunder took second in the shadow of the post to provide sire Night Of Thunder with a 1-2 in the mile contest, with Ghaiyyath colt Opera Ballo ensuring a clean sweep for Darley-sired runners.

Notable Speech, who was looking for a first Royal Ascot win after meeting with defeat in both the 2024 St James’s Palace Stakes and 2025 Queen Anne Stakes, failed to land a blow under William Buick and crossed the line in sixth.

Charlie Appleby, responsible for all three Godolphin runners, said: “I was delighted with Opera Ballo. Billy said he jumped and the horse was keen for the first two furlongs. They were going a decent gallop into a headwind. I don’t know if he would have won without the headwind, because he was going a decent clip. I think he has Sussex Stakes written all over him and we can get him back on a turning track there.

“Notable Speech is none from three here now and I think it has to be the track. We know what he can do – normally William is sitting still from the three to the one-pole, but he was asking the horse to try and pick up two furlongs out today, which is never a good sign. He just doesn’t turn up here, so we will probably head to France for the Prix Jacques Le Marois before his usual travels to North America.”