Massaat’s Docklands Prevails in Queen Anne Thriller

[Wandering Eyes]

There is always a story at Royal Ascot and this year's meeting opener, the G1 Queen Anne Stakes, delivered an immediate slice of drama as Harry Eustace trainee Docklands (Massaat) provided the Newmarket conditioner with a thrilling first Group 1 triumph, by a pixel, despite Australian rider Mark Zahra dropping his whip in the closing stages of the straight one-mile test.

Last year's runner-up, a 14-1 chance, was the last of 10 into stride and settled into a smooth rhythm off a moderate pace towards the rear through halfway in this sixth Group 1 start. Weaving a passage into contention with a quarter-mile remaining, he quickened smartly to seize a narrow advantage entering the final furlong and refused to yield as last year's G1 Irish 2000 Guineas and G1 St James's Palace hero Rosallion (Blue Point) lunged late to call the judge's magnifying glass into early action.

Refai Alghraiban's 100-1 outsider and Alice Haynes nominee Cairo (Quality Road), who ran eighth last year, flashed home late to finish 1 3/4 lengths adrift of the protagonists in third.

“I didn't want to worry about the whip rules, so chucked the stick away,” joked Zahra in the immediate aftermath.

 

WHAT A START TO #ROYALASCOT! PHOTO FINISH IN THE QUEEN ANNE STAKES… AND IT GOES TO DOCKLANDS! pic.twitter.com/SeG6nFmM2R

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 17, 2025

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