A winner priced longer than Ten Bob Tony in the Queen Anne Stakes has not been seen since 1950.

The five-year-old gelding, a 50-1 outsider, triumphed in the initial race of Royal Ascot for 2026. The ten-day turnaround proved beneficial for the chestnut gelding, whose coat gleamed under the bright British sun.

With Opera Ballo, ridden by 2000 Guineas victor Billy Loughnane, setting the early pace at $4.40/16.5, Ten Bob Tony followed up his Group 3 Tattenham Corner Stakes (1408m) win on June 6 with this prestigious Group 1 victory over 1609m.

Trainer Ed Walker’s conviction in starting the son of Group 1 Lockinge Stakes (1609m) winner Night Of Thunder, despite the significant odds, was validated by the outcome.

“Have a go,” Walker stated.

“He recovered exceptionally well from his run at Epsom. It was as if he hadn’t competed, and I was aware that (Ascot) would offer superb ground for the meeting’s opener, irrespective of the weather.

“The surface is like a carpet, and we decided to hold him up. We took a chance.”

This marked Walker’s sixth triumph at Royal Ascot and jockey Kieran Shoemark’s fourth.

“He travelled magnificently, and our plan was to ride him for the mile today,” Shoemark commented.

“He is clearly in superb form. I am admittedly surprised, but undoubtedly thrilled.”

More Thunder ($3.50/7-2), prepared by William Haggas, finished strongly for second, while Opera Ballo, whose three-race winning streak was halted, secured the third position.

The race favourite, Notable Speech ($3.20/11-5), ended up outside the placings in sixth.

Walker and Shoemark are set to collaborate with Almaqam, the recent victor of the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup (2112m), in the Group 1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (2004m) on Day 2 of Royal Ascot.

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