June 18, 2013, Ascot ~ Declaration Of War waged a good battle to defeat the field of 12 other runners in the Queen Anne Stakes at Ascot’s Spring Meeting, coming in ahead of Aljamaaheer and Gregorian in the winning time of 1:38.48, just a tad slower than Frankel’s 2012 wining time of 1:37.85. It was a good day for American owner Joseph Allen, who bred Declaration Of War as well as his sire, War Front, and owns 40 percent of him in a Coolmore partnership with Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith..

The defeat may have been hardest for favorite, Animal Kingdom, winner of the Kentucky Derby and Dubai World Cup, with career earnings of over $5 million, who showed no game at the race.  “He was keen and just didn’t relax,” said jockey John Velazquez. “When I set him down, he gave me no run at all.”

Animal Kingdom now is expected to prepare for his stallion career in New South Wales, Australia, at John Messara’s Arrowfield Stud, who now owns a substantial interest in the horse, along with Team Valor. Animal Kingdom will return to Kentucky for the 2014 breeding season for Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley Stud at Jonabell Farm in Lexington, as he acquired a 29-percent stake in the horse after his Dubai World Cup victory.

A minute’s silence was held before the start of racing for trainer Henry Cecil who died last week. Cecil, an icon in British racing, held a record 75 Royal Ascot winners over four decades.

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