The 16th running of Qatar Racing British Champions Day at Ascot this Saturday will once again bring together the very best horses from across Europe, with many of the season’s stars confirmed this morning.
Eight of the horses currently in the top 20 of the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings are confirmed in the shape of Ombudsman, Almaqam, Bay City Roller, Gstaad, Scandinavia, Calandagan, Constitution River and Kalpana.
The £1.3m Qatar Racing Champion Stakes (4.00pm) was officially the joint-best race in the world last year and will highlight a stellar card, with 11 confirmations headlined by the 1-2-3 from last year – Calandagan, Ombudsman and Almaqam – plus Bay City Roller, Constitution River, Gstaad and Hotazhell. Between them they have won 11 Group 1s this season across five different countries.
George Scott, trainer of Bay City Roller, said: “He’s come out of the race in Paris really well. He’s a very easy horse to get a read on and seems to thrive on his racing. Arguably his two career-best performances have come off the back of a two-week break, so he’s bright and well and all set for the weekend.
“He’s been a model of consistency throughout his career, especially this year, and he’s in fantastic shape. His optimum trip is probably a mile and a half, but ten furlongs is no concern. Ascot is a stiff ten furlongs and that wouldn’t worry me at all.
“If they all turn up, Ombudsman is the king around Ascot, Calandagan was the world’s best horse last year and Almaqam won the Tattersalls Gold Cup. You’ve also got Gstaad stepping up in trip. It’s a fantastic race to be part of and I’m really looking forward to it. It’s about competing at the highest level against the top operations. Bay City Roller has trained so well since the Arc and it’s very exciting to be going there with him.”
Legendary Irish trainer Jessica Harrington is hoping to pull off a historic Champion Stakes double as Hotazhell bids to follow up his dramatic victory in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown last month. The form of that victory has since received a significant boost, with runner-up Wimbledon Hawkeye running out a ready winner of the Group 2 Qatar Prix Dollar at Longchamp on Arc weekend.
Now, with just one race remaining before he retires to stud at Haras d’Etreham in France and Widden Stud in Australia, Harrington is dreaming of another famous afternoon. Hotazhell will attempt to become only the third horse since 2011 to win both the Irish Champion Stakes and the Qatar Racing Champion Stakes in the same season, following Almanzor in 2016 and Magical in 2019.
Harrington said: “Hotazhell winning the Irish Champion Stakes was an amazing lift for everybody here in Commonstown. Winning a big race, a Group 1 race like that, which features all over the world, it’s fantastic for the owners. The yard really gets an unbelievable kick out of it and everyone came in on the Monday morning with a large grin on their face.
“He came out of the race really well, he lost very little weight, he’s done a bit of work at the Curragh since and we were very happy with him. So, all systems go for Ascot. I’m hoping for the best, it’s going to be a very competitive race. They’re all very high-class horses, but if you’re not in you can’t win. Knowing it’s his last race, we really want him to do well, especially for future owners.”
Constitution River has also been supplemented for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Sponsored by Qatar Racing) with trainer Aidan O’Brien yet to confirm where he will run between the two races.
Other confirmations for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (3.20pm), worth £1.1m and run over the Straight Mile, include Queen Anne Stakes winner Ten Bob Tony, Irish Guineas winner Gstaad and the dual Group 1 winner in France this year, Rayif.
Talk Of New York has also supplemented for Charlie Appleby, taking the total number of entries to 13.
The first of five Group 1s on the day is the Qatar Racing British Champions Long Distance Cup (1.30pm), which could see Scandinavia and Caballo De Mar renew their rivalry as they head 12 confirmations.
Scott plans to run Caballo De Mar after he got the better of Gold Cup winner Scandinavia in the Prix du Cadran at Longchamp. He said: “He’s come out of Paris very well. He’s given us all the right signs and we’ve been delighted with him.
“The key with him is keeping him fresh and happy. We’ve changed the way we ride him and train him a little bit, and he’s a horse that seems to be evolving all the time.
“I won’t lie, I was hoping to run into Jan Brueghel rather than Scandinavia again! We won the race fair and square in Paris, but Scandinavia is a top, top-class horse. I think the ground was a bit softer in Paris than it was given, and I expect him to bounce back to his best at a track where he’s been devastating before. Although we just about beat him in Paris, I think it will be very tight.”
Joseph O’Brien has supplemented the St Leger winner, Highwayman, while his number one rider Dylan Browne McMonagle returns to the saddle today ahead of the weekend.
Speaking this morning, O’Brien said: “Highwayman has been supplemented for the staying race. He’s had a good preparation. I’m happy with him and he’s trained well since Doncaster. It’s a step up to go against the older horses and up further in distance. Hopefully, he can cope with it.
“Dylan’s back riding today, so hopefully everything goes smoothly this week and he’ll be back riding this weekend. He’s been off for a while now, so it’s great for him and for us to have him back.”
Ralph Beckett will saddle Amiloc who heads to Ascot on the back of a first victory this season in a conditions race at Salisbury.
Beckett said: “The win at Salisbury was exactly the confidence boost he needed. He worked well on the grass at the weekend and I’m looking forward to running him at Ascot again, on a track where he’s shown good form in the past. I think two miles is his optimum trip, so hopefully everything goes well.”
Almeraq, the leading sprinter in Europe, is among 17 speedsters confirmed for the Qatar Racing British Champions Sprint Stakes (2.05pm), with Soul Love supplemented for Karl Burke.
The race is set to have a distinctly European feel to it with Prix Maurice de Gheest winner Samangan in line to represent France, Minstrel Stakes winner Power Blue coming over from Ireland and Great Wish, a Group 3 winner at Deauville this year, flying the flag for Denmark.
Two-time winner and King George heroine Kalpana heads 15 entries for the Qatar Racing British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (2.40pm) alongside Irish Oaks winner Johanna Walsh and fellow three-year-olds Sparan Nua and Lilt.
Tajlina (Francis-Henri Graffard) and See The Fire (Andrew Balding) have been supplemented.
The day is set to open at 12.55pm with the Qatar Racing British Champions Day Two-Year-Old Conditions Stakes. The inaugural running last year was won by Aidan O’Brien’s Mission Central who went on to win the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot this year. O’Brien has entered Bengal Tiger, Carry The Flag, Confucius and Marco Polo this year.
There are 18 entries in total, including the Gimcrack winner, Arapaho Gold, for Michael Dods while Inner City Blues and Nabati, both Group 2 winners, could represent Charlie Appleby. Night In Vegas is also in line to add to his significant earnings so far this year in this £250,000 race for Eve Johnson Houghton.
The Balmoral Stakes (Sponsored by Qatar Racing) at 4.35pm will conclude the day and 54 horses have been confirmed (max field size 20) including last year’s winner Crown Of Oaks.
Ground conditions
The Going at Ascot is currently Good with GoingStick readings taken at 10am on Monday 12th October 8.2 on Straight Course and 7.1 on the Round Course.
Chris Stickels, Clerk of the Course and Head of Racing at Ascot Racecourse, said, “We’re in really good shape ahead of Saturday and can confirm that we will be on the normal Flat Track.
“There could be the odd shower early in the week and then some rain is forecast for Thursday night into Friday but only between 2-5mm is expected. Unless the forecast changes drastically – and I don’t think it’s going to – I would expect us to be similar ground to where we are now which is Good all over on both the Round and Straight Course.”