The Queen Anne Stakes in 2025 promises so much. It looks a really strong edition of the Straight Mile Group 1 contest for older horses that kicks Royal Ascot off in some style on Tuesday, 17 June. Each of the first four home from Newbury’s Lockinge Stakes take each other on again in a field of 11.
At Berkshire’s other racecourse, Lead Artist prevailed in the Juddmonte silks from Dancing Gemini. Both had runs under their belt coming into Newbury, while back in third and fourth were last season’s St James’s Palace Stakes winner Rosallion and 2000 Guineas hero Notable Speech. The Lockinge was their respective reappearance, so both should strip fitter for the outing.
Away from Newbury form, there are seven others including Australia-bound ex-American miler Carl Spackler. He will be supplemented for the Queen Anne Stakes of 2025 by his new connections en route to life Down Under in the care of Ciaron Maher. Sardinian Warrior and Lake Forest placed in French Group races on their last starts, meanwhile.
Last year’s runner-up Docklands races a quick turnaround from Epsom for Harry Eustace, but bids to go one better. Diego Velazquez is the sole representative from Ireland and the Aidan O’Brien stable, but hasn’t had a run this season and flopped when sent off favourite for the King Edward VII Stakes over further here in 2024.
Completing the line-up are Summer Mile scorer Quddwah for Simon & Ed Crisford and Alice Haynes runner Cairo. The former is two from three starts at Ascot with wins on both the Straight and Round Mile courses. Cairo, meanwhile brings the lowest official rating of 111 into the contest. It’s a fascinating race for punters to have a flutter on through horse racing betting sites, so let’s take a look at the field in more detail.
Queen Anne Stakes 2025 Runners Guide
1. Cairo
- Sire: Quality Road
- Dam: Cuff
- Damsire: Galileo
- Age: 5
- Draw: Stall 11
- Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa
- Trainer: Alice Haynes
- Official Rating: 111
- Form Figures: 2121/10230/2028272-6262
- Notable Wins: 2022 Killavullan Stakes
No Group win since the autumn of 2022, but has run some big races in defeat since. Only eighth in this 12 months ago, yet this edition isn’t any easier. Placed on two of his four starts in the Middle East over the winter, 40/1 second in Huxley Stakes at Chester latest. Most to find on official figures.
2. Carl Spackler
- Sire: Lope De Vega
- Dam: Zindaya
- Damsire: More Than Ready
- Age: 5
- Draw: Stall 8
- Jockey: James McDonald
- Trainer: Ciaron Maher
- Official Rating: 117
- Form Figures: 21811/151116-1
- Notable Wins: 2024 Kelso Stakes, 2024 Fourstardave Handicap, 2024 Coolmore Turf Mile, 2025 Maker’s Mark Mile
Dual Grade I winner in America around Keeneland in the autumn and on reappearance latest. Since sold and moving to Australia, but the Queen Anne Stakes of 2025 will be his first run for new trainer and owner. US form reads well with Maker’s Mark second filling same spot and beaten just a head in the Manhattan Stakes at Saratoga earlier this month. Cannot be ruled out.
3. Dancing Gemini
- Sire: Camelot
- Dam: Lady Adelaide
- Damsire: Australia
- Age: 4
- Draw: Stall 2
- Jockey: Roger Teal
- Trainer: Kieran Shoemark
- Official Rating: 119
- Form Figures: 25115/26654-112
- Notable Wins: 2025 Sandown Mile
Dancing Gemini justifies favouritism, landing a confident victory in the Group 2 @bet365 Mile for Rossa Ryan and Roger Teal
@RogerTealRacing pic.twitter.com/thA8cbtXeq
— Sandown Park (@Sandownpark) April 25, 2025
Better than ever this spring, landing Listed race at Doncaster and Sandown Group 2. Collared late on in the Lockinge by Lead Artist when beaten a neck latest. The mile definitely his trip, but has often found at least one too good at the highest level. Best on good or softer, so faster ground a negative.
4. Diego Velazquez
- Sire: Frankel
- Dam: Sweepstakes
- Damsire: Acclamation
- Age: 4
- Draw: Stall 1
- Jockey: Ryan Moore
- Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- Official Rating: 119
- Form Figures: 116/48011-
- Notable Wins: 2023 Champions Juvenile Stakes, 2024 Meld Stakes, 2024 Solonaway Stakes
Unbeaten in three starts around Leopardstown, but withdrawn from intended reappearance there last month when upset in the stalls. Flopped at this meeting 12 months ago when favourite and failing to stay mile-and-a-half in King Edward VII Stakes. Concedes race fitness to all other Queen Anne Stakes 2025 runners and that’s another concern.
5. Docklands
- Sire: Masaatt
- Dam: Icky Woo
- Damsire: Mark Of Esteem
- Age: 5
- Draw: Stall 5
- Jockey: Mark Zahra
- Trainer: Harry Eustace
- Official Rating: 114
- Form Figures: 2/211163/2227560-23
- Notable Wins: 2023 Britannia Stakes
Course and distance form figures of 113222, so qualifies as a real Ascot specialist. Autumn and winter campaign abroad yielded little more than minor money. Close second and third in Paradise Stakes here and Diomed Stakes at Epsom latest. Certainly capable of outrunning his odds, for all this demands more than when second here last year.
6. Lake Forest
- Sire: No Nay Never
- Dam: Lady Aquitaine
- Damsire: El Prado
- Age: 4
- Draw: Stall 9
- Jockey: Tom Marquand
- Trainer: William Haggas
- Official Rating: 115
- Form Figures: 12417/221-4
- Notable Wins: 2023 Gimcrack Stakes, 2024 Golden Eagle
Runner-up in the Commonwealth Cup at this meeting 12 months ago. Won a valuable race over extended 7f in Australia in the autumn. Respectable fourth on reappearance in France latest when keeping on at the finish. Comes into the Queen Stakes in 2025 completely unexposed over a mile and could get it. Dark horse.
7. Lead Artist
- Sire: Dubawi
- Dam: Obligate
- Damsire: Frankel
- Age: 4
- Draw: Stall 3
- Jockey: Colin Keane
- Trainers: John & Thady Gosden
- Official Rating: 120
- Form Figures: 2131212-81
- Notable Wins: 2024 Thoroughbred Stakes, 2024 Darley Stakes, 2025 Lockinge Stakes
Landed something of a gamble when getting back up close home in the Lockinge latest. The trouble with this horse is consistency. He hasn’t ever backed up a win by going in again on his next start. Proved he stays nine furlongs in the autumn, which is no bad thing for this Straight Mile test. Doubts remain, however, if he can put a string of successes together.
8. Notable Speech
- Sire: Dubawi
- Dam: Swift Rose
- Damsire: Invincible Spirit
- Age: 4
- Draw: Stall 6
- Jockey: William Buick
- Trainer: Charlie Appleby
- Official Rating: 122
- Form Figures: 11117153-4
- Notable Wins: 2024 2000 Guineas, 2024 Sussex Stakes
Had benefit of race fitness from All-Weather campaign when landing last season’s 2000 Guineas. Poorest performance of career came here 12 months ago in St James’s Palace Stakes, however. Beaten favourite and weakened into seventh some six lengths adrift of Rosallion. Bounced back when scoring in the Sussex Stakes during Glorious Goodwood, but no better than third in three subsequent starts. Should come on for reappearance fourth in Lockinge, but other Queen Anne Stakes 2025 runners appeal more.
9. Quddwah
- Sire: Kingman
- Dam: Sajjhaa
- Damsire: King’s Best
- Age: 5
- Draw: Stall 7
- Jockey: Callum Shepherd
- Trainers: Simon & Ed Crisford
- Official Rating: 114
- Form Figures: 11/1145-1
- Notable Wins: 2024 Paradise Stakes, 2024 Summer Mile
Won on both the Straight and Round Mile courses here last season. This asks more questions of the lightly-raced five-year-old than either previous visit to Ascot, however. Must find more than his reappearance Listed victory across the Channel at Longchamp latest when he made all.
10. Rosallion
- Sire: Blue Point
- Dam: Rosaline
- Damsire: New Approach
- Age: 4
- Draw: Stall 10
- Jockey: Sean Levey
- Trainer: Richard Hannon
- Official Rating: 122
- Form Figures: 1131/211-3
- Notable Wins: 2023 Pat Eddery Stakes, 2023 Prix Jean-Luc Lagarere, 2024 Irish 2000 Guineas, 2024 St James’s Palace Stakes
Ended juvenile campaign with French Group 1 success. Landed Irish Guineas and the St James’s Palace last season. Needed the run after 333 days off the track when third in the Lockinge on his return. Should come on for it now. On last year’s Royal Ascot form, he’s the one to beat in the Queen Anne Stakes in 2025.
11. Sardinian Warrior
- Sire: Saxon Warrior
- Dam: La Collina
- Damsire: Strategic Prince
- Age: 4
- Draw: Stall 4
- Jockey: Christophe Soumillon
- Trainers: John & Thady Gosden
- Official Rating: 117
- Form Figures: 2/111-12
- Notable Wins: 2025 Paradise Stakes
Progressive on the All-Weather last season winning all three starts. Built on that form when defeating Docklands in official Queen Anne Trial here at end of April. Not disgraced when runner-up in Group 1 Prix d’Ispahan over further latest. Looks a miler and gives stable second string to Lead Artist. Each-way player.
Queen Anne Stakes 2025 Shortlist & Verdict
If the ROSALLION who landed the St James’s Palace turns up on the opening day of the Royal meeting again, then he wins this. Richard Hannon brought him back into training after missing the second half of last term with injury. Third in the Lockinge behind Lead Artist and Dancing Gemini was a massive effort from Rosallion off such a lengthy lay-off.
Sardinian Warrior also has claims for the Gosdens if building on his Longchamp effort from last time. His defeat of course and distance regular Docklands in the spring augurs well for returning to this Straight Mile down in trip. The most difficult horses to assess, meanwhile, are Lake Forest and Diego Velazquez. Carl Spackler is a wildcard, but may prefer an easier mile like Notable Speech.
