Paco Boy cruises to victory

Paco Boy blew both his rivals and any lingering doubts about his stamina right out of the water in Royal Ascot's opening race of 2009, the Queen Anne Stakes.

Talk of the colt not being able to see out a mile has become one of the self-perpetuating myths of this Flat season and a source of irritation to trainer Richard Hannon and jockey Richard Hughes.

A length-and-a-half victory in this Group One event over Ascot specialist Cesare and last year's Jersey Stakes winner Aqlaam was as good an answer as was needed.

The one complete washout was Gladiatorus, officially the world's highest-rated horse, who dropped right away to be sixth.

"I think it's put a few old jokers to bed," said Hannon. "If he didn't stay a mile he stayed it better than the others anyway."

Paco Boy (100-30) had only two real blots to his copybook when well behind Gladiatorus in March's Dubai Duty Free and when fourth to Virtual in the Lockinge at Newbury.

Hannon explained: "He was badly drawn in Dubai and wasn't quite right at Newbury and came home with an infection in a foot, he wasn't moving quite right.

"Now we've had the time to get him right again and I couldn't be more delighted for the little horse.

"He'll be in the Sussex Stakes for sure and there's the Foret, that he won last year (over seven furlongs). We were going to whip back to the July Cup if things didn't happen here but we are going to have a rethink now I suppose.

"He's as good a miler as I have had. If I have my way he won't go to America (Breeders' Cup) - it's a very long plane ride."

Paco Boy's white face was easy to spot as he moved stylishly between horses and when Hughes unleashed him with a couple of furlongs to run, the race was quickly over.

The jockey added: "I felt a bit sorry for the horse, everyone was knocking him.

"A child could ride him when he's right but at Newbury he was pulling and that's not him.

"Today he just eased up there, it was like a bit of work. My only worry was whether to sit a little bit longer. He's something else."

Gladiatorus, who was trained by Mubarak bin Shafya but now with Godolphin, will have left his watching owner Sheikh Mohammed crestfallen.

Ahmed Ajtebi attempted to recreate the front-running tactics of the Duty Free but the 9-4 favourite was a spent force by the two-pole.

"He was not half the horse he was in Dubai - he seemed a different horse," reflected young Ajtebi.

Godolphin's woes were compounded as Alexandros was eased home eighth of nine, with Frankie Dettori reporting: "He did not feel 100% right going to post and in the latter stages it seemed that something was pinching him."

It was left to Cesare, who had a dream run up the inside rail on his seasonal reappearance, to run Paco Boy closest.

Trainer James Fanshawe said: "He had a foot problem towards the end of last year and then he did a splint back in March.

"Horses like him are few and far between as he's had his problems and has always come back.

"I would imagine he will come back for the Summer Mile."

Aqlaam, half a length away in third, has had his own troubles.

Trainer William Haggas said: "When they have an injury as he did, it's very difficult to get them back, and I did think after his first run of the year that we were in trouble. Let's hope he can carry on the improvement."

Main Aim was fourth with Sir Michael Stoute pleased but likely to drop back in trip.