Ten Bob Tony landed a stunning 50-1 victory in the Queen Anne Stakes, the opening race of Royal Ascot 2026 at Ascot Racecourse on Tuesday, June 16. The five-year-old gelding, trained by Ed Walker and ridden by Kieran Shoemark, secured his first Group One win, following up his success at Epsom on Betfred Derby day just 10 days earlier.
Race Overview
The son of Night Of Thunder was running over a mile for only the third time, having previously been campaigned almost exclusively over seven furlongs. His last attempt at the distance was a fourth-place finish in the German 2,000 Guineas at Cologne in May 2024. Under Shoemark, Ten Bob Tony sat in midfield as Godolphin's Opera Ballo set the pace at 10-3. He made smooth progress to challenge the leader and scored by half a length from More Thunder (7-2). Opera Ballo, ridden by Billy Loughnane, held on for third, a head further back. Zeus Olympios (11-1) was fourth, while the 9-4 favourite Notable Speech, trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by William Buick, could only manage sixth, disappointing for the third consecutive year at the Royal meeting.
Previous Form
Ten Bob Tony had won the Group Three John Of Gaunt Stakes over seven furlongs at Haydock Park last May and repeated that success at Epsom earlier this month after the race was transferred. He had disappointed at Haydock in a Listed event on his seasonal return but bounced back to claim his biggest career victory.
Trainer's Reaction
Ed Walker secured his sixth Royal Ascot win but first Group One at the meeting. He said: "It's just an amazing story. He was Simon Sadler's first ever horse; he's now got more than 50 in training worldwide, and he just won a Group Three 10 days ago. For him to turn up here and do that… Kieran gave him an absolute peach of a ride and was very, very patient. The miracle happened." Walker added: "We agreed we'd sit last and pass as many as we could in the final furlong. It's beautiful ground out there – I always think at Ascot you can get away with horses that need a bit of dig on the straight course. This horse is just a legend."
Jockey's Comments
Shoemark was winning for the fourth time at the Royal meeting but his first Group One. He said: "I'm riding for a great stable, Ed Walker and his team do a superb job. We thought he wanted easy ground but it's genuine good-to-firm. He just travelled into it so easy, he's a pretty smart horse. Clearly thriving, his run at Epsom was good but he's taken a step forward again. It's massive, I appreciate the magnitude of Royal Ascot and to win a Group One in the first race on the first day certainly takes the pressure off."
Owner's Emotional Response
Owner Simon Sadler, who named the horse after his father, said: "This horse is named after my Dad. That was his nickname because he used to have 50p – 10 bob – stalls on the market at Blackpool. Dad's not here today, he's not in the best of health, but I'm sure he's watched it and I bet he had more on it than I did! I'm blown away. I'm shaking. Tears down my face! Never in a million years did we ever think…"
Other Runners
Jockey Billy Loughnane, who rode Opera Ballo to third, said: "Super run from Opera Ballo. It's a stiff mile here, there's a headwind on the track and I was into that for a lot of the race, but he is very tough and stayed on."
