2021 Queen Anne Stakes Tipsheet

The five-day Royal Ascot meet kicks off on Tuesday with the prestigious Queen Anne S. (G1). Held over one mile on the straight course, the Queen Anne has drawn an elite field of 11, all vying for a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) at Del Mar.

Queen Anne picks

• #6 Palace Pier
• #5 Order of Australia
• #4 Lord Glitters
• #9 Regal Reality
• #3 Lope Y Fernandez
• #11 Top Rank
• #10 Sir Busker

Queen Anne wagers

• $5 Exacta: 6 with 5 ($5)
• $2 Trifecta: 6 with 5 with 3,4,9,10,11 ($10)
• $2 Trifecta: 6 with 3,4,9,10,11 with 5 ($10)
  Total: $25

Queen Anne contenders

#1 Accidental Agent sprung a 33-1 upset in the 2018 Queen Anne, but he’s gone winless in 16 starts since then. He’s eligible to improve in his second start back from surgery to correct a breathing issue, but his 2021 debut—a fourth in a one-mile handicap at Newbury—leaves Accidental Agent with form to find against this caliber of competition.

#2 Bless Him enters off a runner-up effort in the Sandown Mile (G2) last month, though he was beaten eight lengths by Palace Pier. A victory at the stakes level has proven elusive for Bless Him, who will need improvement to crack the superfecta at Royal Ascot.

#3 Lope Y Fernandez never fired over good-to-soft ground in the Lockinge S. (G1) at Newbury last month, finishing eighth behind Palace Pier. But the Aidan O’Brien trainee had previously won Leopardstown’s Heritage S. over good ground by a convincing 5 1/2 lengths, his first run since finishing a close third in the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Mile. A top-four finish is within reach.

#4 Lord Glitters might be eight years old, but he remains in good form. Winner of the 2019 Queen Anne and runner-up in 2018, Lord Glitters recently snatched a top-level victory when nabbing the 1 1/8-mile Jebel Hatta (G1) in Dubai during the winter. He kicked off his European season with a fourth in Lockinge and may take a step forward while returning to Ascot.

#5 Order of Australia tried his hand as a classics type last season, but thrived when cutting back in distance for the Breeders’ Cup Mile, where he defeated 2020 Queen Anne winner Circus Maximus by a neck at 73-1. Subsequently sixth in Hong Kong Mile (G1), Order of Australia hasn’t run since December, but he’s been specifically pointed toward the Queen Anne and should run a fine race off the layoff. Keep in mind, trainer Aidan O’Brien has won the Queen Anne four times.

#6 Palace Pier is hands-down the horse to beat in the Queen Anne. Winner of the St. James’s Palace S. (G1) at Royal Ascot last summer, Palace Pier has claimed victory in seven of his eight starts. He’s 2-for-2 in 2021 alone, dominating the Sandown Mile by eight lengths before rallying to win the Lockinge by a confident 1 1/2 lengths. Frankie Dettori, Royal Ascot’s most successful active jockey, retains the mount, stamping Palace Pier as one of the shortest-priced favorites of the meet. He’ll be tough to beat.

#7 Pogo placed at the Group 1 level when third in the Prix d’Ispahan (G2) in France last summer, but he misfired against Palace Pier in the Lockinge last month, fading to finish 10th out of 11. He’ll need a form turnaround to crack the top four at Royal Ascot.

#8 Prince Eiji scored his lone victory at Ascot back in 2018, but the son of Dubawi has gone 0-for-11 since then. He nearly turned things around in the Queen Anne Stakes Trial over this course and distance in April, finishing second by a head, but the competition is much deeper in the Queen Anne itself.

#9 Regal Reality was once a capable Group 1-placed performer over middle distances, but he’s achieved even better results since cutting back to one mile last summer, winning the Sovereign S. (G3) and placing in the Celebration Mile (G2) and Joel S. (G2). The latter race saw Regal Reality split the Group 1 winners Kameko and Benbatl while beaten just half a length. Regal Reality hasn’t run since September, but a top-four finisher isn’t out of the question for Royal Ascot’s all-time leading trainer Sir Michael Stoute.

#10 Sir Busker finished right behind Prince Eiji when third in the Queen Anne Stakes Trial, beaten 1 1/4 lengths for all the money. Winner of the Silver Royal Hunt Cup handicap racing one mile at Royal Ascot last summer, Sir Busker reiterated his affinity for the Queen Anne conditions when finishing fourth in the Queen Elizabeth II S. (G1) to wrap up 2020. But the son of Sir Prancealot will need improvement to get his picture taken on Tuesday.

#11 Top Rank couldn’t keep pace with Palace Pier in the Lockinge, finishing seven lengths behind in third place. But he’d previously won the Doncaster Mile in fine fashion, and he also claimed top honors in the 2020 Superior Mile (G3) at Haydock, so Top Rank—while not the top-ranked contender—fits well enough to warrant inclusion in trifecta tickets.