Royal Ascot serves as a prestigious stage for Europe’s top turf horses, as well as many challengers from around the globe. It has strengthened the stories of many legendary Thoroughbreds over the years, and also played host to many shocking upsets.
The latter was true in the opening race of the 2026 meeting June 16, as Ten Bob Tony (IRE) rallied from last to win the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) as a 50-1 longshot in the local wagering. The rewards for his top-level graduation are plentiful, including an automatic berth to the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In.
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The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is an international series of stakes races, the winners of which receive automatic starting positions with fees paid into a corresponding race of the 2026 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, to be held at Keeneland Oct. 30-31.
The victory was a breakthrough for TBT Racing’s 5-year-old Night Of Thunder (IRE) gelding, who had been Group 1-placed in France last year. His first victory at the top level came just 10 days after pulling off a head victory in the 7-furlong Tattenham Corner Stakes (G3) at Epsom Downs. That triumph was a reversal of form for the Ed Walker trainee, who had been off the board in his three prior starts.
As it turned out, it proved the proper tune-up to face some of the best turf milers on the globe. The Queen Anne was billed as an in-barn match between Godolphin-owned and Charlie Appleby-trained Notable Speech (GB), last year’s FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile winner, and Opera Ballo (IRE).
Opera Ballo took early initiative, setting a quick early tempo on the straight course while Notable Speech found early position in the middle of the nine-horse field. In last was Ten Bob Tony, jockey Kieran Shoemark biding his time.
As the real running began down the straight, it was clear Notable Speech would not be firing his best shot, but Opera Ballo was still battling away on the lead. Shoemark stayed patient and moved to the outside. With just over a furlong to go, he made his move and came rallying. More Thunder (IRE) was also making a run from behind inside of Opera Ballo for jockey Tom Marquand.
Leg weary late, Opera Ballo gave way to the closers inside the final 100 meters, with Ten Bob Tony surging to win by a half-length in 1:37.53 on a good to firm course. More Thunder finished second, completing an exacta for sire Night of Thunder.
Bred in Ireland by Knocktoran Stud, Ten Bob Tony aced two needed tests Tuesday should connections decide to pursue a Breeders’ Cup bid in the fall. First was the class test, accomplished with the reigning Breeders’ Cup Mile winner 4 1/4 lengths behind in sixth. Second was the distance. Ten Bob Tony had only raced twice over a mile before, not hitting the board in either race. Walker had kept the gelding focused on 6 and 7 furlongs over the last two years, and the door is now open to more possibilities as a Group 1 winner over a mile.
“I guess (Keeneland) is not going to be rattling-quick ground at that time of year, so I think we have to give it all consideration,” Walker told FanDuel TV about a Breeders’ Cup bid.
Mission Central Defeats Elders in King Charles III
It was another surprise victory two races later as Mission Central (IRE) pulled off an upset, albeit at not as massive odds of 14-1, in the King Charles III Stakes (G1). The victory clinched the No Nay Never gelding a spot in the $1 million Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) through the Challenge Series. Although the odds may have been surprising, success from the connections is not as Mission Central raced for the powerhouse trio of owner Coolmore, trainer Aidan O’Brien, and jockey Ryan Moore.
O’Brien has had high expectations for the gelding bred by Gigginstown House Stud, bringing him to Del Mar to compete in the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1). Mission Central was outpaced that day, finishing 10th, but has proven a stronger horse so far at 3.
Entering off a pair of listed stakes victories over 5 furlongs, Mission Central was one of just three 3-year-olds brave enough to take on his elders in Tuesday’s 26-horse King Charles III. Moore had settled toward the rear of the massive group as they progressed down the straight course.
The closest to the stands, Mission Central showed a strong turn of foot in the final furlong to run down the competition. He defeated Rayevka (IRE) by a head while the Australian-based favorite Overpass (AUS) finished a length back in third. Mission Central completed the 5 furlongs in :58.72.
Speaking with FanDuel TV, O’Brien said he thinks Mission Central is a horse that he could return to the Breeders’ Cup stage.
“He’s progressive, every run he’s coming forward,” O’Brien said. “He is a gelding, so it makes it so much more straightforward.”
Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series action will continue with two more events during the Royal Meeting. On June 17, the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (G1) offers an exciting matchup of star turf runners with a ‘Win and You’re In’ spot to the $5 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) on the line.
Then, in the opening race on the June 20 card, 2-year-old sprinters compete for a spot in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) in the Norfolk Stakes (G2), which features several American invaders from the barn of Wesley Ward.
Each of the races will receive extensive television and streaming coverage in the United States by NBC Sports. The coverage continues Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. ET on Peacock and NBC, and continues through Friday (beginning each day at 8:30 a.m. ET). NBC and Peacock will present a live 4.5-hour Royal Ascot program on Saturday, June 20, starting at 9 a.m. ET.
