Docklands Confirms His Affinity for Ascot With Queen Anne Triumph

He edged out Rosallion by a nose in the Royal Meeting opener, handing trainer Harry Eustace the first Group 1 victory of his career

Up the rail, Docklands got the better of Rosallion in the Queen Anne Stakes / ROYAL ASCOT

BERKSHIRE, Ascot (Special for Turf Diario).- Harry Eustace became a Group 1-winning trainer Tuesday at Royal Ascot, as Docklands (Massaat) edged out favored Rosallion (Blue Point) in a dramatic finish to the G1 Queen Anne Stakes (1600m, straight, good), the opening act of the 2025 Royal Meeting.

A course specialist, Docklands—runner-up in this same race last year and winner of the Britannia Stakes in 2023—delivered his late rally down the stands' side, while Rosallion launched his bid up the rail. Despite jockey Mark Zahralosing his whip with 200 meters to go, Docklands found enough to repel the challenge of the G1 St James’s Palace Stakes hero and put behind him the misfortune he encountered ten days earlier at Epsom.

Rosallion, third in the G1 Lockinge Stakes, took another step forward, while Cairo (Quality Road) surprised in third for trainer Alice Haynes, narrowly holding off the luckless Notable Speech (Dubawi).

“This was intense—I lost my voice, which tells you how emotional it was,” said Eustace. “Early on I was really unhappy with the pace; Docklands was a bit sleepy out of the gates, and I was worried. But he’s a very special horse—he always puts his heart on the line.”

“He’s a legend to us. If there’s one place where a horse like him deserves to shine, it’s here, at the biggest meeting of the year. Two furlongs out I thought Rosallion had us, but Docklands dug deep. He’s been frustrating at times, but only because I knew he deserved more.”

“Oddly enough, getting boxed in at Epsom might have helped him arrive here fresher. We were taking on multiple Group 1 winners, Classic winners, and we were probably the most exposed—but he loves this course, and that made the difference.”

Eustace also thanked Terry Henderson and OTI Racing for sticking with the horse: “They turned down a major offer after the Britannia to keep having fun with a good horse—and this is the reward.”

Zahra, who became the first Australian jockey to win the Queen Anne, added: “I was worried about the whip rules, so I just let it go in the last 200. The race was slow and I got into position. He quickened and just kept finding.”

“It’s an amazing feeling. Huge thanks to everyone who got me on this horse. With so many Aussies cheering—even though he’s British—it felt like I was riding for them. Harry pumped me up every step of the way. This was supposed to be a stop on the way to Ibiza… and look how it turned out.”

Trainer Richard Hannon was proud of Rosallion: “He’s a top-class miler. I thought we had it... but full credit to the winner. The race was run at a crawl, and he did everything right. It stings, but that’s racing.”

Silvestre de Sousa, aboard Cairo, said: “He ran a brilliant race. He’s always had the ability, and he showed it today. The slow pace didn’t help, but he ran with heart.”

Trainer Charlie Appleby offered no excuses for Notable Speech: “It’s disappointing, but this is racing. He was cruising, but the slow tempo made it a sprint, and we got stuck when trying to launch. He may be better at 1400 meters, though I’m not ruling out the Sussex. The City of York Stakes could be a big target.”