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Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Sponsored By Qatar Racing) (Group 1)

15:20 Ascot Sat 17 Oct 2026 1m0f0y Class 1 Good 11 runners

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Mr Fox’s call

Gstaad silks

Gstaad

SPECULATIVE Advised 5/2 Est. 28%

8TH

Mr Fox says

Gstaad (SR 138, 5/2) is the class standout in this field by a clear margin — the only runner above SR 130 with both DistFit:+ and GoingFit:+ confirmed on today's Good ground at Ascot, where he also holds Course:W1P2. Ryan Moore, the yard's first-string booking at 24% career strike rate, is a strong signal that O'Brien's stable regards this as their number-one in the race over stablemate Hawk Mountain (SR 96, Colin Keane). The market has shortened 9% since opening, underlining steady confidence, and at 3 years old carrying 9-3 he has a weight advantage over the older horses. The MarkMv:+5 is the one caution — he runs off a mark 5lb above his last win — but at Group 1 level that is marginal against the SR gap separating him from the field. Each-way alternative: Rayif. Main danger: Rayif — Rayif (SR 131, 5/1) is trained by Graffard who strikes at 31% — the highest trainer strike rate in the field — and his form reads 13-151, with a recent win; the only concern is DistFit:? and GoingFit:? suggesting unknown unknowns on this track and ground, but if he handles both he is a serious threat at a price.

Verify· #23914

Full result

Winner: Talk Of New York (GB) at SP 3/1. Mr Fox’s picks highlighted in gold.

  1. 1 Talk of New York silks Talk of New York Fox #3 Charlie Appleby · William Buick 7/2
  2. 2 Ten Bob Tony silks Ten Bob Tony Fox #4 Ed Walker · Kieran Shoemark 15/2
  3. 3 Rayif silks Rayif Fox #2 Francis-Henri Graffard · C. Soumillon 7/1
  4. 4 Needle Match silks Needle Match William Haggas · Cieren Fallon 100/1
  5. 5 Zavateri silks Zavateri Eve Johnson Houghton · Charles Bishop 11/1
  6. 6 Docklands silks Docklands Harry Eustace · Billy Loughnane 28/1
  7. 7 More Thunder silks More Thunder William Haggas · Tom Marquand 11/2
  8. 8 Gstaad silks Gstaad Fox #1 Aidan O'Brien · Ryan Moore 5/2
  9. 9 Dancing Gemini silks Dancing Gemini Roger Teal · Dylan Browne McMonagle 80/1
  10. 10 Zeus Olympios silks Zeus Olympios K. R. Burke · Clifford Lee 17/2
  11. 11 Hawk Mountain silks Hawk Mountain Aidan O'Brien · Colin Keane 33/1

Top 4 — how each finished

  1. 1 Gstaad silks Gstaad 5/2 8TH
  2. 2 Rayif silks Rayif 5/1 🥉 3RD
  3. 3 Talk of New York silks Talk of New York 7/2 SP 3/1 🏆 WON
  4. 4 Ten Bob Tony silks Ten Bob Tony 7/1 🥈 2ND