Queen Anne Stakes Ante-Post Preview: Le Brivido can turn the tables

Away from the classic generation, there is no standout miler in the division this season, hence why the ante-post betting for the Queen Anne Stakes has such an open look to it, with bookmakers going 5/1 the field at the time of writing.

The Lockinge Stakes at Newbury is always a good pointer and it was the six-year-old gelding Mustashry who came out on top there. He left the impression he would come on a bundle for his reappearance and duly backed that view up, showing much improved form to land his first Group 1 event from the reappearing Laurens. Admittedly, Mustashry had plenty go his way on that occasion, always well positioned and having no trouble in-running, but he was well on top at the finish there and this late-developing type looks one of the leading protagonists.

Mustashry wins the Group 1 Lockinge at 9-1 for trainer Sir Michael Stoute with Jim Crowley in the plate - he's the first six-year-old to win it since 2005 pic.twitter.com/geWbIN0RBP

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 18, 2019

Laurens shaped as though retaining all of her ability after seven months off, faring much better than on her first attempt up against the boys in the Queen Elizabeth ll Stakes on her final start last season. She looked in fine shape beforehand, clearly fit enough to do herself justice, but this still sets her up for the campaign ahead, however she will have her work cut out to reverse placings with the winner here, and the top fillies races at a mile will likely offer potential further rewards at this level.

Accidental Agent was a surprise winner of this race 12 months ago and ran a race full of promise after eight months off to finish third at Newbury. As usual, he was ridden patiently, still having plenty to do two furlongs from home, but keeping on well thereafter and was never nearer than at the finish. Accidental Agent looked as if the race would bring him on, and will clearly be no forlorn hope in his bid to win back-to-back renewals of this race – has a good record on the straight course at Ascot – but in all likelihood, he will need to prove better than ever to turn the tables with Mustashry who sets a higher standard.

The horse to take out of the Lockinge, however, is the Aidan O’Brien-trained Le Brivido, who didn’t have things go his way at all. Drawn in stall 14, nearest the stands side rail, he was quickly dropped in by Ryan Moore and travelled well in the rear, still last approaching the two-furlong marker. He didn’t get the clearest of runs, either, but once finding his stride in the final furlong he finished with some purpose, doing well to finish as close as he did given the position he came from, the race starting in earnest away from him. Already a Royal Ascot winner – won the Jersey Stakes in 2017 when trained by Andre Fabre – he rates just the type that will continue to progress for his master trainer, and looks the one to be with at the prices at this time.

Freddy Head has won the Queen Anne twice since 2010 with Goldikova and Solow, both of who carried the same colours of Polydream. A winner of the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville (beat James Garfield by half a length) last season, she made an underwhelming reappearance in the Prix du Muguet at Saint-Cloud at the beginning of May, beating only one home in a race won by Plumatic. However, she shaped a bit better than the bare result, keen enough racing in rear and holding every chance when making her effort over a furlong out, until the lack of a recent run seemed to tell. She’s entitled to strip much fitter for that outing and would be no back number here if returning to the pick of last season’s form.

Plumatic is in the same ownership but trained by Andre Fabre, and was a surprise winner of the aforementioned race, but there was no fluke about his success. Wearing the owners’ second colours, the market underestimated his chances, but he had the best form heading into the race and sealed the deal in the closing stages having been held up early, coming with a late burst of speed down the outside to chin Olmedo on the line. Still lightly raced for a five-year-old, he could still have even more to offer, and his trainer won this race with Valixir in 2005.

Godolphin are the leading owners in the race with eight wins since 1996, and Lincoln winner Auxerre appears to be one of their main hopes in this year’s renewal. A winner of three of his four starts as a three-year-old, he looked the cliché pattern-performer masquerading as a handicapper when taking no prisoners in the Lincoln at Doncaster on his return, given a no-nonsense ride by James Doyle. He hasn’t been seen since, which is a slight concern, and moving straight into Group 1 company represents a stern step up in class, but he is clearly held in some regard and remains open to improvement after just five career starts.

Auxerre dominates the Unibet Lincoln @DoncasterRaces for James Doyle and Charlie Appleby! pic.twitter.com/GutntbV3lL

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 30, 2019

Others to mention include his now stablemate Barney Roy, who proved infertile at stud and was subsequently gelded ahead of his encouraging return in a listed event over the Queen Anne C&D won by Zaaki in early-May. He shaped as if retaining a large amount of his ability after 19 months off, running to a borderline very smart level, and is set to run in a listed event at Longchamp this evening. Dream Castle and Lord Glitters are a couple who underperformed last time, but shouldn’t be judged too harshly on those efforts, and are the types to be involved in the finish if back to their best.

Recommendation:

Back Le Brivido at 8/1 for the Queen Anne Stakes