Royal Ascot opened with a major surprise on Tuesday as Ten Bob Tony produced a remarkable performance to land the G1 Queen Anne Stakes, becoming the longest-priced winner of the prestigious mile contest since Garrick’s victory in 1950.
Royal Ascot 2026 Results
The five-year-old, trained by Ed Walker and ridden by Kieran Shoemark, entered the race with plenty to prove after spending much of his career competing over shorter distances. However, a determined finish on the straight course saw him overturn expectations and provide one of the most memorable opening moments of the meeting.
Royal Ascot 2026 results showed Ten Bob Tony’s Queen Anne Stakes victory as the standout story of the opening day.
The race unfolded at a strong pace, with Opera Ballo setting the early rhythm while Shoemark chose patience aboard Ten Bob Tony, keeping him towards the back of the nine-runner field. Rather than chasing the speed, the rider waited for the right moment before making his move.
As the runners approached the final furlong, Ten Bob Tony began to close rapidly along the stands’ side. Opera Ballo remained involved while More Thunder launched a challenge from the opposite side, creating a thrilling three-way finish.
Ten Bob Tony found extra strength in the closing stages and crossed the line half a length ahead of More Thunder, with Opera Ballo staying on for third. Notable Speech, winner of the G1 Lockinge Stakes, was unable to reproduce his best form and finished sixth.
For Walker, the victory represented a remarkable achievement for a horse who had already exceeded expectations earlier in the season.
“It is just an amazing story,” Walker said after the race. “He has always been a very solid horse and today everything worked perfectly. Kieran gave him a brilliant ride and saved him for the finish.”
Walker explained that the plan had been to settle the horse and allow him to build momentum late in the contest. The trainer also praised the conditions at Ascot, believing the surface suited Ten Bob Tony’s strengths.
The victory marked another significant milestone for owner Simon Sadler, who revealed the horse was named in honour of his father’s nickname.
“I am blown away,” Sadler said. “We never imagined this would happen. It is a very special moment.”
Shoemark, who delivered a composed ride throughout, highlighted how much the horse had improved since his previous success at Epsom.
“He travelled into the race so easily,” Shoemark said. “He has stepped forward again and showed what he can do when everything comes together.”
The jockey added that winning a Group 1 contest on the first day of Royal Ascot was a moment he would always remember.
More Thunder’s runner-up finish gave trainer William Haggas plenty of encouragement, while Charlie Appleby felt Opera Ballo had performed with great credit after facing demanding conditions.
Opera Ballo’s rider Billy Loughnane said the colt had battled hard despite the testing nature of the straight mile and the strong headwind.
For Ten Bob Tony, the victory has transformed his season and raised fresh possibilities for the months ahead, including a potential return to France later in the campaign.
The opening race of Royal Ascot once again demonstrated why the meeting remains one of the most anticipated events in the racing calendar, producing drama, emotion and a winner few expected to see.
For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to racebuzz