Queen Anne hero switches to Group Two company at Newmarket

Royal Ascot hero Accidental Agent will face four rivals in the Shadwell Joel Stakes at Newmarket on Friday.

Eve Johnson Houghton’s stable star caused a huge upset when landing the Queen Anne Stakes in June.

The son of Delegator was unable to back up that performance in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville on his latest appearance, finishing down the field behind Alpha Centauri, but has his sights lowered for this Group Two assignment.

Accidental Agent faces no easy task as he must concede weight all round due to his Group One penalty.

Johnson Houghton said: “Accidental Agent has got to carry a Group One penalty in the Joel Stakes, but I believe he is still improving and I can’t see why that won’t negate the burden of having to give weight.

“He has only run below par once this year and that was when he was under the weather.

“I think he went over to France for the Jacques le Marois with some kind of bug on him, he was very quiet while he was over there. The travelling brought it out and he was very low for two weeks afterwards.

“He has thrived since then and he has to run in the Joel as he is a gross horse and waiting another month for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes would be too much.”

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Mustashry is arguably the one to beat following his recent triumph at this level in the Park Stakes at Doncaster.

Stoute also saddles Regal Reality, while Roger Varian’s Zabeel Prince and Zonderland from Clive Cox’s yard complete the small but select field.