Queen Anne Stakes 2026
The Queen Anne Stakes opens Royal Ascot with a high-class straight-mile Group 1, and this year’s renewal brings together proven Group 1 ability, progressive improvers and several horses with strong Ascot or mile form.
Run over 1m on good to firm ground, this looks a race where raw class, straight-track speed, current trainer form and the ability to produce a career-best mile performance are all crucial.
Key Queen Anne Stakes Trends
- Experience: 20/20 winners had run in 6-21 career races.
- Non-Handicap Profile: 20/20 winners had run in 6-18 non-handicap races.
- Market: 20/20 winners were no bigger than 33/1, with 18/20 within the first 6 of the market.
- Career Win Price: 20/20 winners had won at no bigger than 16/1.
- Winning Profile: 20/20 winners had recorded 3-11 career wins.
- Trip RPR: 20/20 winners had achieved an RPR of 112+ over the trip.
- Last Time Out: 20/20 winners were not coming from a Listed or Class 2 race.
- Last Win: 20/20 winners had achieved an RPR of 108+ on their most recent win.
- Age: 19/20 winners were aged 5 or younger.
The pure trends shortlist strongly highlights Opera Ballo, who achieved a perfect 15/15 trends match. More Thunder, Notable Speech and Zeus Olympios all scored 14/15, while Docklands and Damysus also make appeal from slightly different angles.
Turf Talk Eliminator + Ratings
| Horse | Trends % | Rating | OR/RPR | Class | Mile Profile | Recent | Trainer | Going/Course | Key Positives | Negatives | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opera Ballo | 100% | 242 | 125 / 138 | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓ | Perfect 15/15 trends match, elite RPR and TS profile, progressive mile form and Charlie Appleby in excellent form. | Billy Loughnane is a talented rider, but this is a major Group 1 test. | Main selection |
| Notable Speech | 93% | 240 | 125 / 138 | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓ | Highest joint RPR, proven Group 1 class, Lockinge winner, strong mile profile and Appleby/Buick combination. | Short price and needs to back up the Lockinge effort quickly. | Main danger |
| More Thunder | 93% | 236 | 121 / 134 | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | Strong trends score, excellent going record, progressive profile and William Haggas yard in good form. | Needs to improve again to match Opera Ballo and Notable Speech on raw Group 1 figures. | Shortlist |
| Zeus Olympios | 93% | 233 | 120 / 133 | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | Strong trends match, unbeaten on good to firm, effective at a mile and solid RPR profile. | Needs to bridge the gap to the very top ratings horses. | Major player |
| Docklands | 80% | 232 | 118 / 132 | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | Last year’s winner, excellent course record, Mark Zahra returns and has rock-solid Ascot mile form. | Trend score is lower than the leading profiles and this year’s race may be stronger. | Respected |
| Damysus | 80% | 229 | 119 / 134 | ✓✓✓ | △ | ✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓ | Strong RPR and TS profile, Gosden yard in form and James Doyle riding well. | Mile profile is less convincing than some and needs to show this is his ideal setup. | Place chance |
| Cicero’s Gift | 73% | 221 | 118 / 133 | ✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | △ | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | High-class back form, proven course and distance profile and enough ability to outrun big odds. | Recent run leaves a question and trend score is only fair. | Outsider with class |
| First Conquest | 73% | 218 | 111 / 126 | ✓ | ✓✓ | △ | ✓✓✓ | ✓ | Ryan Moore booked, Appleby form strong and enough profile positives to be interesting. | Needs a sizeable ratings jump and current form is harder to support. | Needs more |
| Ten Bob Tony | 73% | 214 | 112 / 127 | ✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | △ | Recent winner, Ed Walker yard in good form and Kieran Shoemark riding well. | Faces a major class rise and needs a career-best by some way. | Up against it |
Key: ✓✓✓ strong positive, ✓✓ positive, ✓ acceptable, △ slight concern, ✗ negative, ? unknown or limited data.
Final Turf Talk Filter
The final filter brings this down to Opera Ballo, Notable Speech, More Thunder, Zeus Olympios and Docklands. These are the runners who combine the strongest overall mix of trends, ratings, trainer form, straight-mile suitability and Royal Ascot profile.
Opera Ballo comes out narrowly on top because he is the pure trends standout, achieving a perfect 15/15 match, while also backing that profile up with elite RPR and Topspeed figures. He remains progressive, looks fast enough for a straight mile and represents a Charlie Appleby yard in excellent form.
Notable Speech is the obvious danger on raw ability. He brings proven Group 1 form, the joint-highest RPR in the race, a powerful mile profile and arrives off a Lockinge win. The Appleby and Buick combination is a major positive, and he sets a very high standard.
More Thunder is a strong third contender. His going record is excellent, the Haggas yard is in good form and he has the right progressive shape to keep improving at this level.
Queen Anne Stakes 2026 Tips
1. Opera Ballo
Opera Ballo is the Turf Talk selection for the Queen Anne Stakes. He is the only runner to achieve a perfect 15/15 trends match and he also owns one of the strongest raw ratings profiles in the race.
He is progressive, fast enough for a straight mile and represents Charlie Appleby, whose yard is operating at a strong strike-rate. If he takes another step forward, he has the profile to win this.
2. Notable Speech
Notable Speech is the obvious danger on raw ability. He brings proven Group 1 mile form, arrives off a Lockinge win and owns one of the strongest ratings profiles in the race.
With William Buick booked and Charlie Appleby operating at a strong strike-rate, he looks the most reliable top-level danger to the selection.
3. More Thunder
More Thunder has a very strong all-round profile. He handles good to firm, has already posted a high RPR over the trip and represents William Haggas, who has a strong recent record.
He may need another small step forward to win, but he looks a serious contender.
Turf Talk Verdict
Opera Ballo is the selection, with Notable Speech the strongest raw-ratings danger and More Thunder a major progressive threat. Zeus Olympios and last year’s winner Docklands complete the main shortlist.
Final Selection
Opera Ballo
The trends, ratings and final filter point towards Opera Ballo as the strongest Turf Talk play in the 2026 Queen Anne Stakes.
1st: Opera Ballo
2nd: Notable Speech
3rd: More Thunder
Final note: draw, ground, pace setup, market strength and late paddock signals can still affect the final race shape.
