QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame | Horse Racing Free Tips

Dettori and Dancing Brave Inducted Into QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame

Charismatic international jockey Frankie Dettori and 1980s legend Dancing Brave (Lyphard) are the two newest members of the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame. Launched in 2021, the Hall of Fame is specifically for UK Flat racing, and both inductees will be honoured through a special presentation moment ahead of the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket Racecourse on Saturday, Apr. 30.

Dettori, 51, is the third jockey to be inducted after Lester Piggott and Pat Eddery. He has ridden almost 3,300 British winners, third to Piggott and Willie Carson, as well as celebrated major victories in at least 24 countries. The Italian holds the record for scores in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Tromphe, with six. One of Dettori's greatest triumphs in the saddle was riding all seven winners on a card at Ascot on Sept. 28, 1996. Dubbed the 'Magnificent Seven', the feat's cumulative odds were 25,051-1.

“Winning every race on a card was something that I didn't think was possible, not in my lifetime anyway,” Dettori recalled. “It's the biggest achievement of my career, without question.”

The reinsman also has 270 wins at the Group 1 level to date. In Britain, he has booted home the winners of 21 Classics, among them triumphs in the G1 Derby aboard Authorized (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) in 2008 and Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) in 2015. At Royal Ascot, he has 76 winners to his credit, second only to Piggott. Dettori has been named the top jockey at the Royal Meeting eight times.

Dettori said, “Joining the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame gives me an immense feeling of pride and I'm honoured for my career to be recognised in this way, placing me alongside others who I have looked up to my whole life. Lester was my idol when I came over from Italy and I was lucky to ride against him on a few occasions, while Pat was the most gifted horseman I have ever seen.

“When I first started out, my ambition was to be a mid-division jockey. This spiralled out of control early on; I quickly became Champion Jockey, I got an awesome job with Luca [Cumani], and the dream came alive. When I first set out on this path, I didn't quite believe in myself but, as things snowballed, I realised I could make it to become the jockey I am today.”

Trained by Guy Harwood for the late Prince Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte operation, Dancing Brave is the sixth horse to enter the Hall of Fame, 36 years after his G1 2000 Guineas victory. Bred by Glen Oak Farm and Gainesway Farm in Kentucky, Dancing Brave was a $200,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Summer Yearling Sale graduate and won both starts at two. The bay colt returned at three to take six races in 1986, including the G1 2000 Guineas, G1 Eclipse S., G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. and a strong renewal of the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. His only losses were an unlucky second in the G1 Derby to Shahrastani (Nijinsky II) whom he beat in the Arc, and a fourth to Manila (Lyphard) in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita in November of 1986. The colt was so highly thought of that since the International Classifications began in 1977, only Frankel (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), a Juddmonte homebred and fellow Hall of Famer, has been rated higher.

“On behalf of Prince Khalid's family, for Dancing Brave to be the second horse owned by him, after Frankel (GB), to be inducted into the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame is testament to Prince Khalid's passion and vision for the Thoroughbred,” said Douglas Erskine Crum, Chief Executive of Juddmonte. “It is another significant landmark in Prince Khalid's legacy which endures into the future. Everyone at Juddmonte is delighted that Dancing Brave has received this prestigious accolade.”

Added Harwood, “He was definitely the horse of the decade (1980s), if not amongst the top two or three in the last 40 years. What made him different to others was that most horses were specialists–either specialist milers, mile and a quarter or mile and a half–but Dancing Brave would have been a champion over any distance.

“My absolute standout memory of Dancing Brave has to be winning the Arc de Triomphe; it was one of the occasions where I had complete confidence that the horse was going to win. I was never in any doubt that he was at his best and at his best, he was unbeatable.”

The National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket has also established an official display for the Hall of Fame, providing visitors with an opportunity to find out more about some of the most adored and important stars of British Flat racing in person. To view videos of the inductees, please go to the Hall of Fame's website.

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HM The Queen Inducted Into British Horseracing Hall of Fame

Her Majesty The Queen has become the first entry into the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame within the Special Contributor category for her “unwavering commitment and longstanding patronage of the sport”.

From celebrating her first winner in 1949, the Queen has been a consistent presence in racing as an owner/breeder through eight decades, as well as acting as an unofficial figurehead for the sport in Britain, particularly though its globally recognised flagship Flat meeting, Royal Ascot.

“I suspect that The Queen will have a lot of inner pride in being invited into the Hall of Fame,” said Her Majesty's bloodstock and racing advisor John Warren. “The Queen's contribution to racing and breeding derives from a lifelong commitment. Her love of horses and their welfare comes with a deep understanding of what is required to breed, rear, train and ride a thoroughbred.”

He added, “Her Majesty's fascination is unwavering and her pleasure derives from all of her horses–always accepting the outcome of their ability so gracefully.”

Sir Francis Brooke, The Queen's Representative at Ascot Racecourse, said, “The inclusion of The Queen within the Hall of Fame recognises her unique contribution to the world of racing, not only as an enthusiast, but also as a successful owner and breeder and as its most important patron.”

The Queen has been represented by more than 1,800 winners, including the Classic winners Carrozza (GB), Highclere (GB), Pall Mall (GB) and Dunfermline (GB). She has twice been Champion Flat Owner in Britain, in 1954 and 1957. In 2022, The Queen will become the first monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, with the Derby at Epsom set to form part of the official celebration of her historic 70-year reign.

Sir Michael Stoute, the 10-time champion trainer whose many successes for The Queen include training her Gold Cup winner Estimate (Ire), said, “Her Majesty will be thrilled to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. She richly deserves it because her contribution has been enormous. She loves it so much.

“I've found that training for The Queen comes with no pressure. Because of her understanding, her deep knowledge and her thirst for more. She's always thinking ahead–what I'm going to do with this animal, am I going to breed it, who should I breed it to, temperament, speed, stamina. She's fascinated with the whole idea and we must remember it's a very long time that she's been doing it.”

Recalling Estimate's famous Royal Ascot victory, Ryan Moore, who has ridden 71 winners for The Queen, added, “The thing I remember most about that day is the cheering. I probably hadn't ever received a reception like that at the Royal Meeting, or any time before really. It was different on that day–you can see with The Queen how much it means to her; the way she smiles when she's looking at her horses, the enjoyment she was getting out of that. People want to see her do well and winning the Gold Cup, it's hard to top that. It was such a special day.”

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Pat Eddery Inducted into QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame

The late Pat Eddery has been inducted into the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame. Eddery, who died in 2015, was named champion jockey on 11 occasions from 1974-1996 and booted home more than 6,000 winners. A total of 4,632 were in Great Britain, a figure exceeded only by the legendary Sir Gordon Richards, who had 4,870. Eddery won 14 British Classics, including three Derbys with Grundy (GB) (Great Nephew {GB}), Golden Fleece (Nijinsky II) and Quest For Fame (GB) (Rainbow Quest). It was aboard Grundy that Eddery rode in the 'Race of the Century' where his mount triumphed over St Leger winner Bustino (GB) (Busted {GB}) in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. in 1975.

His daughter Natasha Eddery-Dunsdon, a competitive showjumper said, “He was, and always will be, one of the all-time greats. When I think about what he was like as a jockey, I think about his quiet concentration, his focus, the determination to win. That's what set him apart, his desire to win and to beat his comrades–winning was everything to him, second best just wasn't an option.

“He had the best hands of any jockey, he was a kind rider, intuitive, he just connected with horses. If he were riding a puller, he'd simply give the horse the rein and drop his hands on the neck–I've personally tried this and I always get run away with–but they never did that with dad, they just stayed totally relaxed.

“Entering the Hall of Fame would have made him so proud; I only wish he were still here to experience this special moment. It's one myself and my family will cherish.”

Jockey Frankie Dettori said, “We used to call him 'God' because he was like God.”

Four-time champion trainer Richard Hannon, Sr., who Eddery rode for many years, added, “I'm sure Pat would have loved to have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. It's nice to be remembered. He was a very good jockey, he was very good with horses and he had a great memory of them too. If he rode one 18 months before, he'd know exactly all about the horse. He had a great brain.

“You didn't have to tell Pat anything really. He just went out and did his job. As a trainer you do the job to ensure the horse is fit and everything is fine, but he used to go out and do his own thing, however the race worked out. That makes a jockey for me–if the race doesn't go right for you, you think of another way round it.”

Other champions associated with the late jockey included El Gran Senor (Northern Dancer), Zafonic (Gone West), Danehill (Danzig), Sadler's Wells (Northern Dancer) and Warning (GB) (Known Fact). Among his quartet of Arc winners was Dancing Brave (Lyphard) in 1986. He also rode Pebbles (GB) (Sharpen Up {GB}) to victory in the 1985 GI Breeders' Cup Turf and the 1986 Japan Cup winner Jupiter Island (GB) (St. Paddy {GB}), both for trainer Clive Brittain.

His family will be presented with a commissioned medal, designed by Asprey and unique within British racing, which will be displayed as part of a special Hall of Fame exhibition at QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on Oct. 16.

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Dayjur Voted Into QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame

The late sprinter Dayjur (Danzig–Gold Beauty, by Mr. Prospector), European Horse of the Year in 1990, is the first horse to be inducted into the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame by public vote. The Shadwell runner won the majority of the votes over Black Caviar (Aus) (Bel Esprit {Aus}), Lochsong (GB) (Song {GB}) and Moorestyle (GB) (Manacle {GB}). Trained by Dick Hern and ridden by Willie Carson, the $1.65-million 1988 Keeneland July yearling rattled off consecutive victories in the G2 Temple S. at Sandown Park, G2 King's Stand at Royal Ascot, G1 Nunthorpe at York, G1 Sprint Cup at Haydock Park and finally the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp in his championship 3-year-old season.

Angus Gold, Racing Manager to Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell operation, said of the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint runner-up, “All of us at Shadwell are thrilled to hear that Dayjur has been voted into the QIPCO British Champion Series Hall of Fame to join some of the greats of our business, both equine and human.

“He was an outstanding racehorse and it will be a huge thrill to Sheikh Hamdan's family to see him honoured in this way. We are very grateful for this award.”

Dayjur's connections will receive a specially commissioned medal, designed by Asprey and unique within British racing to mark the achievement. This medal will be on display as part of the Hall of Fame exhibition at QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot Racecourse on Oct. 16. As part of the Class of 2021, Dayjur joins inaugural inductees Frankel (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and Lestor Piggott, trainer Vincent O'Brien and 1970s superstars Brigadier Gerard (GB) (Queen's Hussar {GB}), Mill Reef (Never Bend), and Nijinsky II (Northern Dancer). There will be more inductions announced prior to QIPCO British Champions Day.

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