Canford Cliffs wins at Ascot ROYAL ASCOT 15-19 JuneCoverage: 1345-1715 BST First five races on BBC Two and BBC Sport website (UK users only), big-race commentaries on BBC Radio 5 live Results:bbc.co.uk/racing
Brilliant French mare Goldikova held off the strong-finishing Paco Boy to win the Queen Anne Stakes, the first race of the 2010 Royal Ascot meeting. The 11-8 favourite, ridden by Olivier Peslier, was clocking up the ninth Group One victory of her career. Meanwhile, Canford Cliffs landed the St James's Palace Stakes and trainer Richard Hannon doubled up with Strong Suit in the Coventry Stakes. Equiano, trained by Barry Hills, claimed the King's Stand Stakes. Goldikova got the meeting off to an explosive start as the dual Breeders' Cup Mile winner showed her class. Paco Boy put in a stirring late run to challenge the Freddie Head-trained winner, but lost out by a neck with 50-1 shot Dream Eater in third.  Peslier drives Goldikova to victory before a bumper crowd |
"When she gets to the front she's never beaten. She's extraordinary," said Head. During his riding career, Head rode Miesque to a Breeders' Cup double in 1987 and 1988 and a total of 10 Group One wins. "Miesque was very special as a two-year-old. This one is tougher I think," he said, "Miesque was a champion but you had to find the right race with her. Goldikova can do anything. She is very special." Equiano overcame a stumble out of the starting stalls to land the King's Stand Stakes, which offers a £170,00 prize to the winner. The trainer's son rode the 9-2 shot to victory for his father, who has suffered with throat cancer and missed the 2009 Royal meeting. "He's a very fast horse. He fell out of the stalls because he's so quick. He was always going to win today because he was in such good form," said Barry Hills. "I was in hospital last year, so it's nice to be back here today."  | 606: DEBATE |
Markab finished second, with Borderlescott third as Australian sprinter Nicconi - ridden by Frankie Dettori - finished out of the frame Hills junior added: "The horse has been in such great form all year, but today he was so quick coming out of the gates he just stumbled. "It was difficult to stay on at the start, but when a race is worth that kind of money you have to hang on for dear life. "This meeting is made of dreams. That's the first dream for me so know I'll try and get another one." After the disappointment of seeing Paco Boy beaten, Hannon and his son-in-law Hughes had double reason to celebrate. Canford Cliffs earned a lofty reputation after winning the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2009, and justified it with victory in the Irish 2000 Guineas following a third to makfi in the English version at Newmarket. Hughes said the three-year-old, who may head for the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, was in a different league to most of his mounts. "Being on him is like getting into a Rolls Royce instead of a Morris Minor," said the Irish jockey. "The difference is unbelievable. You just sit on him and everything is smooth and is electric. He has so much speed and that's his forte." Hughes was in the winner's enclosure again after the Coventry after getting Strong Suit up on the line to deny Elzaam. Favourite Strong Suit found trouble in running but made up late ground, and was installed as favourite for the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in May 2011.
Queen Anne Stakes 1 Goldikova (Freddie Head) Olivier Peslier 11-8 fav
2 Paco Boy 11-4
3 Dream Eater 50-1
Dist: 3¼, ¾. 10 ran. King's Stand Stakes 1 Equiano (Barry Hills) Michael Hills 9-2
2 Markab 14-1
3 Borderlescott 16-1
Dist: 1½, Neck. 12 ran. St James's Palace Stakes 1 Canford Cliffs (Richard Hannon) Richard Hughes 11-4 joint-fav
2 Dick Turpin 5-1
3 Hearts Of Fire 33-1
Dist: 1,¾. 9 ran.
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