- Ryan Moore drives home winner of Queen Anne Stakes
- First day of royal meeting takes place behind closed doors
Circus Maximus and Ryan Moore edged out Frankie Dettori aboard Godolphin’s Terebellum in a brilliant conclusion to the Queen Anne Stakes, the first Group One contest of Royal Ascot 2020 and a race that could yet prove decisive in the contest to be the meeting’s top rider.
Dettori, the narrow second-favourite to retain the crown he won 12 months ago, seemed to have stolen a vital length on Circus Maximus when he kicked for the line a furlong out. Urged on by Moore, however, Circus Maximus inched his way towards the leader and got his nose in front with a stride to spare to win by a head, with the 40-1 outsider Marie’s Diamond back in third.