James Wigan & Ballylinch Stud's Bay Bridge (GB) will bid to become the first horse since Cracksman in 2018 to win back-to-back editions of the QIPCO Champion Stakes (G1) at Ascot. This Saturday, the British flat racing season comes to its conclusion with two Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In races featured as part of a spectacular card. The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO) (G1) gives the winner an automatic starting position for the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) and the winner of the QIPCO Champion Stakes (G1) earns an invitation to the $4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1).
The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 80 Graded/Group stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, scheduled to be held Nov. 3-4 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.
Top Stars Align for Champion Stakes
Eight runners have been declared to take on the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Bay Bridge in the 1 1/4-mile QIPCO Champion Stakes. The son of New Bay (GB) finished a creditable sixth behind Ace Impact (IRE) in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) on Oct. 1, but weakened inside the final furlong over 1 1/2-miles. However, he is reported to have returned from the French capital in excellent condition and now returns to his optimum distance at Ascot.
“He appears to have come out of the Arc well and he ran very well there. If he can go back and defend his crown, that would be wonderful. It looks like this is his best trip and his highest ratings are at 1 1/4-miles,” said John O'Connor of Ballylinch Stud, who owns the horse with James Wigan.
Storm Babet has hit the U.K. this week with the condition on the straight and round courses at Ascot changed to soft on Thursday, after almost 13mm (about half an inch) of overnight rain. With further rain forecast on Friday, there will likely be testing conditions at Ascot on Saturday. French raider Horizon Dore (FR) is one horse who will relish the ground. There have been three French-trained winners of the QIPCO Champion Stakes since the race moved to Ascot in 2011 and the Patrice Cottier-trained 3-year-old son of Dabirsim (FR) will be hoping to emulate Cirrus Des Aigles (FR), Almanzor (FR), and Sealiway (FR). Horizon Dore has won four consecutive races, including a stylish victory in the Sept. 30 Qatar Prix Dollar (G2) at Longchamp. This will be his first attempt at Group 1 level.
King Of Steel is set to be Frankie Dettori's final ride in the UK. Narrowly denied Betfred Derby (G1) glory by Auguste Rodin (IRE), the son of Wootton Bassett (GB) easily won the King Edward VII Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot before running well in defeat in both the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes (G1) and the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes (G1). With owners Amo Racing no longer retaining jockey Kevin Stott, Dettori has been called up for what is scheduled to be the Italian's final mount in Europe.
The John and Thady Gosden-trained Mostahdaf (IRE), already the winner of two Breeders' Cup Challenge Series Races this season – the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) and the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) – is only a possible runner on Saturday with connections expressing concerns about the likelihood of testing ground in Berkshire. Having already secured an automatic starting position into the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) and the $4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1), he could be set for the Breeders' Cup if he doesn't run at Ascot.
The George Boughey-trained Via Sistina (IRE), a 2-length winner of the July 1 Yulong Pretty Polly Stakes (G1), will be partnered by Oisin Murphy as she takes on the colts for the first time this season.
My Prospero (IRE) finished third, a half-length behind Bay Bridge in this race last year, and will once again team with Tom Marquand for trainer William Haggas. He was last seen winning the Foundation Stakes (Listed) at Goodwood. Dubai Honour (IRE), second in this race in 2021, will also line up for William Haggas.
The progressive Royal Rhyme (IRE) and the Aidan O'Brien-trained Point Lonsdale (IRE) complete the field.
Irish Strongly Represented in Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
There hasn't been an Irish-trained winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Sponsored by QIPCO) since Minding (IRE) won in 2016, but Irish contenders look to hold a strong hand in Saturday's renewal with Paddington (GB) and Tahiyra (IRE).
Paddington's six-race unbeaten record came to an end in the Juddmonte Stakes (G1) in August over 1 1/4-miles but Aidan O'Brien has given the son of Siyouni (FR) a 60-day break to freshen him up. Paddington was particularly impressive at Ascot in the St James's Palace Stakes (G1), around a bend, and the straight mile on Saturday should suit him even better given he has proven his stamina over 1 1/4-miles.
Meanwhile, four-time Group 1 winner Tahiyra has been beaten just once in six career starts, when edged out by Mawj in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas. Her trainer Dermot Weld looks set to make a late call on her participation with the potential for very soft ground on her first start outside of her own sex a concern for Weld. Should Tahiyra sidestep Ascot, she would have the option of traveling to America for the Breeders' Cup.
The John and Thady Gosden-trained Nashwa (GB) finished a neck ahead of Paddington in the Juddmonte International Stakes before finishing an unlucky third in the Royal Bahrain Champion Stakes. She drops down to a mile for the first time since her emphatic victory in the July 14 Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes (G1) at Newmarket. The yard will also be represented by Epictetus (IRE).
France will be represented by Big Rock (FR) and Facteur Cheval (IRE). Big Rock has finished second in three consecutive Group 1 races, with the most recent effort coming in the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (G1) with Facteur Cheval a half-length back in third.
QICPO 2000 Guineas (G1) hero Chaldean (GB) will make his comeback to the track after 106 days off. He will be partnered by Frankie Dettori.
Angel Bleu (FR) flew home late to land the Aug. 26 William Hill Celebration Mile Stakes (G2) on soft ground at Goodwood, and connections supplemented the son of Dark Angel (IRE) at a cost of £70,000.
Other contenders include the Tom Clover-trained Rogue Millennium (IRE), William Knight's Checkandchallenge (GB), and the Kevin Ryan-trained Hi Royal (IRE)
As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for the winners of the Challenge Series winners to start at this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships. Breeders' Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the Championships' pre-entry deadline of Oct. 23 to receive the rewards.
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