ASCOT, England: Canford Cliffs denied globetrotting mare Goldikova a 14th Group One victory and staked his claim to be Europe's top miler when he outbattled the French raider to win the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot Tuesday. Jockey Richard Hughes rode a supremely confident race, sitting at the back in the early stages before producing Canford Cliffs to challenge inside the final furlong. The four-year-old secured his fourth Group One triumph, producing his renowned turn of foot to win by a length from favorite Goldikova. Victory was sweet compensation for trainer Richard Hannon, whose Paco Boy was beaten by a neck by Goldikova in the race last year. It was a third consecutive win at Royal Ascot for Canford Cliffs having won the Coventry Stakes in 2009 and last year's St James's Palace Stakes. Zoffany's Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien gained swift compensation when Power won the Coventry Stakes while Prohibit handed British trainer Robert Cowell and jockey Jim Crowley a first Royal Ascot success. In a helter-skelter five furlong dash to the King's Stand Stakes, Prohibit fended off Australian-trained Star Witness and Sweet Sanette, trained in Hong Kong.
