‘What an amazing feeling': Mark Zahra wins Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot aboard Australian-owned Docklands
Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Mark Zahra kicked off the Royal Ascot carnival on a winning note for Australia when he piloted Docklands to victory in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes (1609m).
Australian-owned Docklands, trained by Harry Eustace, was purchased last year by OTI Racing for a tilt at the 2024 Cox Plate, in which he was an 11-length fifth behind Via Sistina.
After subsequent unplaced runs in the Champions Stakes at Flemington and the Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin, Docklands returned to Eustace's stables in the UK.
• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
In his sole ride on day one of the Royal Ascot carnival, Zahra let the $14 betting chance settle off the pace in the 10-horse field before making his move between runners at the 400m mark.
In a desperately close battle with $3.60 favourite Rosallion, Docklands got the bob on the line – despite Zahra being forced to ride hands and heels after dropping his inside the final 100m.
DOCKLANDS pips ROSALLION in the Queen Anne Stakes. Congratulations to jockey Mark Zahra, trainer @H_Eustace, and all connections. #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/J8sHjOTBnz
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 17, 2025
'Everyone kept scaring me about the whip rules, I thought it was just easier to throw it away at the 200m,' Zahra joked in his post-race interview.
'It was a very slow, slow speed and I just crept as much as I could, we got room at the right time and he just kept responding, it was such a tough win.
'What an amazing feeling.'
There was a strong Antipodean flavour to the Queen Anne, with jockey James McDonald sixth aboard the now- Ciaron Maher -trained former US star Carl Spackler, which was recently purchased by Yulong Racing. Just ahead of Carl Spackler in fifth was the William Haggas -prepared Lake Forest, which won the $10 million Golden Eagle at Rosehill last November.
The Henry Dwyer-trained Asfoora was unable to defend her Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1006m) victory from 12 months ago but she was far from disgraced, finishing fifth as $14 chance American Affair charged home for victory.
AMERICAN AFFAIR takes the King Charles III Stakes for @PMulrennan and @JimGoldieRacing. Congratulations to all connections. pic.twitter.com/m5VB0k5UEk
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 17, 2025
Under Irish jockey Oisin Murphy, Asfoora ($4.50 fav) raced close to the pace and looked a winning chance at the 200m before just peaking on her run late.
Dwyer had already flagged leading into the King Charles III Stakes that Asfoora would be vulnerable in the race, given he was unable to get her to England in time to have a lead-up run, as she did last year.
The Nunthorpe Stakes in late August is a key goal for Asfoora later in her UK campaign.
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