Canford Cliffs beats Goldikova in Queen Anne

Report: Royal Ascot, Tuesday

Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1) 4yo+ 1m straight

CANFORD CLIFFS won a thrilling Queen Anne Stakes from the well-backed favourite Goldikova, with Cityscape back in third.

Trainer Richard Hannon, who has stated before that Canford Cliffs is the best horses he has trained, was effusive in his praise again for the winner.

"He's very special to us - these sorts of horses don't come around everyday," the champion trainer said. "He's got a real old cruising speed and can also quicken."

Canford Cliffs was anchored at the back of the field by Richard Hughes all the time having favourite Goldikova, whose jockey Olivier Peslier weighed out 1lb overweight but weighedin 2lb overweight, in his sights.

BHA head of communications Paul Struthers explained Peslier's fine of £650 on Twitter, writing: "£650 fine for Olivier Peslier for changing his equipment after weigh out. Weighed out 1lb over, weighed in an additional 1lb over."

Goldikova took over from her pacemaker Flash Dance with a quarter of a mile remaining and wentfor home - and so did Canford Cliffs.

The mare was giving her all in front but Canford Cliffs was grinding her down, while away in the centre of the track Cityscape was zipping home under Ryan Moore.

Cityscape briefly got up to challenge with the big two but could not pass them and it was Canford Cliffs that went on to the front.

Goldikova tried and tried again to get back up and deny Canford Cliffs a third successive Royal Ascot victory, she could not and it was Hannon's star that took the prize.

The four-year-old, owned by Robin Heffer, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, crossed the line in 1min 38.38sec, which is quicker than RP Standard of 1min39.0sec.

Hannon's son and assistant Richard Hannon jnr mentioned the Sussex Stakes, Hong Kong Mile and Breeders'Cup Mile, where he would meet Goldikova again, as targets for Canford Cliffs.

He added: "With Paco Boy last year we were getting sick of seeing her arse; she must have cost us a £1.5millionlast year."

Hughes had finished second to Goldikova on Paco Boy last year and complimented the mare's jockey Olivier Peslier for the way he rode the race. 

"Olivier rode a brilliant race," Hughes said. "He played a classic game of cat and mouse. He didn't kick and we couldn't kick until he did. We quickened several time in last furlong."

Freddie Head, trainer of Goldikova, was gracious in defeat and admitted that the better horse was the winner on the day.

"There a no excuses," Head said. "We had the perfect run and were just beaten by a better horse on the day. The Breeders' Cup Mile is still the end-of-season target."

Cityscape's trainer Roger Charlton was with a big smile on his face while also wonderingwhat might have been.

"You have to be pleased with that. A furlong and a half out Ryan [Moore] thought he could win and we might have, but he just felt the ground," the trainer said.

"If it had been softer, who knows? We may go to Deauville for the Jacques le Marois [on August 15]."