Rip Van Winkle wins QEII Rip Van Winkle showed his undoubted class with a brave victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot. Aidan O'Brien's three-year-old had to pull out all the stops to hold the late bid of Zacinto in the Sony-sponsored Group One contest. Delegator was third with Aqlaam, who made the early running, last of the four. Richard Hills set out to make a fast pace on Aqlaam with Rip Van Winkle on his heels as these two pulled a few lengths clear of their two rivals. Johnny Murtagh decided to hit the front on the 8-13 shot as they turned into the straight. Delegator was the first to threaten but his challenge petered out and it was left to 18-1 chance Zacinto to throw down the gauntlet. However, Rip Van Winkle pulled out more to win by a length and a quarter, with Delegator three and a quarter lengths back in third.
