Dubai: Godolphin’s Night Of Thunder will take on some of the world’s best milers led by unbeaten French star Solow in the Group 1 £250,000 Queen Anne Stakes, the highlight of the opening day of this year’s Royal Ascot festival.
The stable have won the historic race seven times in the past and will be hoping that Night Of Thunder can reproduce his winning performance in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury last month, in this biggest test.
Trained for Godolphin by Richard Hannon, the four-year-old son of Dubawi, ran a cracker of a race to beat stable companion Toormore by a neck on that occasion.
He has been well rested since and have been meticulously prepared for a shot another Group 1 victory.
Hannon has a terrific record in the race have won three of the last six runnings with Toronado (2014), Canford Clifs (2011) and Paco Boy (2009).
Godolphin’s previous Queen Anne victories came courtesy Ramonti (2007), Dubai Destination (2003. Refuse To Bend (2004), Cape Cross (1999), Intikhab (1998), Allied Forces (1997) and Charnwood Forest (1996).
Solow, an outstanding winner of the Dubai Turf at Meydan Racecourse on Dubai World Cup night is the ante-post favourite.
Able Friend, a superstar in Hong Kong with 11 wins from 16 starts, has also been well supported in the markets as he looks to make a memorable overseas debut, having run all his races at Sha Tin.
John Moore, one of Hong Kong’s most successful trainer’s is confident that his stable flag-bearer will run a big race.
