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Two Stakes On British Champions Day Join Breeders’ Cup ‘Win And You’re In’ Series

This Saturday, the curtains will close on the British Flat racing season with a star-studded lineup confirmed for QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot Racecourse. Two new Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races feature as part of a stellar card, as the QIPCO Champions Stakes (G1) and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO) (G1) will award “Win and You're In” berths for the $US4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) and the US$2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile presented by PDJF (G1), respectively.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 86 stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which will be held at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California, on Nov. 5-6.

Heavyweights Go Head-to-Head in QIPCO Champion Stakes

Ten runners have been declared for a thrilling renewal of the 1 ¼-mile QIPCO Champion Stakes headed by multiple Group 1 winner Mishriff (IRE) and Cazoo Derby (G1) hero Adayar (IRE).

The John & Thady Gosden trained Mishriff, owned by Prince A A Faisal, was last seen winning the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) at York on Aug. 18, a “Win and You're In” for the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). It was the 4-year-old's first domestic Group 1 success after winning the Saudi Cup (G1) and Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) earlier this year.

Connections will be hoping the son of Make Believe (GB) can reverse recent form with Godolphin's Adayar. The former coming out on top in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes (G1) on Jul. 24 to secure his automatic position in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, with Mishriff 1 ¾-lenghts behind in second.

Adayar returns to the track after finishing fourth in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) at ParisLongchamp last time out. The 3-year-old pleased connections with his work at home, encouraging Charlie Appleby to target a third Group 1 success with the son of Frankel (GB) this season.

Appleby said: “Adayar pleased us yesterday (Wednesday) in an easy piece of work and showed his well-being. He ticked all the boxes and had all his checks. After discussions with the team the intention is to run him at Ascot.

“We are looking forward to meeting Mishriff as he's the one we have to beat over a mile and a quarter, which is a trip we will be exploring next year as well.”

Adayar's participation could also prove pivotal to Godolphin stable jockey William Buick, who is bidding to win the British Flat Jockey's Championship for the first time. Buick is currently neck and neck with Oisin Murphy, with the Championship coming to an end at Ascot on Saturday afternoon.

Trainer William Haggas saddles three in the race, including defending QIPCO Champion Stakes champion Addeybb (IRE). Second in the Coral-Eclipse (G1) at Sandown on July 3, with Mishriff back in third, the 7-year-old gelding returns to Ascot. He is joined by stablemates Al Aasy (IRE) and Dubai Honour (IRE), who was supplemented for US$102,000. Other notable runners include Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) fifth Sealiway (FR) and Belmont Derby (G1) winner Bolshoi Ballet (IRE).

Palace Pier Aiming for More Group 1 Glory in QEII

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum' s Palace Pier (GB) and Shadwell's Baaeed (GB) are set to clash in the 1-mile Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO) (G1).

The John and Thady Gosden-trained Palace Pier has been beaten only once in his career, when third behind The Revenant (GB) in this race last year. The son of Kingman (GB) was back to his brilliant best this season, winning the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (G1) at Newbury, the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot and Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois (G1) at Deauville. The two latter victories securing his “Win And You're In” place in the Breeders' Cup FanDuel Mile.

Baaeed, trained by William Haggas and ridden by Jim Crowley, is unbeaten. The 3-year-old son of Sea The Stars (IRE) has won each of his five starts comfortably, starting his season in maiden company to winning the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (G1) at ParisLongchamp in his last start.

His trainer William Haggas said: “He's extraordinary. I've been enormously impressed with what he's done in such a short space of time, but he has a big task in front of him. It's a hell of a race – probably the best mile race of the season. I don't want to undermine the horses that finished behind him at Longchamp, but I'm sure we didn't see him at his best. You'll see the best of him on Saturday.”

They are joined by the Andrew Balding-trained Alcohol Free (IRE), who was last seen at York finishing sixth in the Juddmonte International (G1), and QIPCO 1000 Guineas (G1) heroine Mother Earth (IRE), trained by Aidan O'Brien.

Other notable runners include Godolphin's Master of The Seas (IRE) and last year's winner The Revenant (GB).

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for the winners to start in the Breeders' Cup World Championships. Breeders' Cup will also provide a travel allowance of US$40,000 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. 25 to receive the rewards.

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Addeybb On Course To Bid For Repeat In QIPCO Champion Stakes

Last year's winner Addeybb is firmly on course for a bid to become the second dual winner of the QIPCO Champion Stakes since it was moved to Ascot in 2011 as the centerpiece of QIPCO British Champions Day. The Champion Stakes is a “Win and You're In” for the Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 6.

Addeybb is set to face stellar opposition, with Cazoo Derby and King George VI & Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes winner Adayar still a possible runner, alongside Juddmonte International winner Mishriff and the winners of many more of the world's top middle-distance races.

William Haggas, who also plans to run the talented but frustrating Al Aasy and the supplemented three-year-old Dubai Honour, reports the popular 7-year-old “in as good shape as we could possibly have him”. If successful he would become the Champion Stakes' oldest winner since 1887, when Bendigo won a Newmarket running of the race at the same age.

Addeybb, who was also second to Magical two years ago, is among 14 possibles for the race, 10 of whom are already winners at Group 1 level.

Haggas said: “We are very pleased with Addeybb's condition. We'd like rain for him, and the more the better, but it doesn't look as if we are going to get it. I'd be surprised if it was quick ground though, as it was so wet there at the last meeting, and he'll run.

“I'd have loved him to have had a run, as it's a top, top race, but he goes well fresh and he can win off a lay-off. His last two weeks have been really good.”

He added: “Dubai Honour is a nice young horse who has won two Group 2s. He's doing very well physically and he's a pretty useful horse. This will be a big rise in class for him but we've got nothing to lose. I'm running Al Aasy too, and he's not without hope, dropping back in trip. Everyone questions him bar me, but he's a very, very talented horse.''

Mishriff was down the field 12 months ago but has had a massive year, taking his earnings past the £11m mark with wins in the Saudi Cup, the Dubai Sheema Classic and the Juddmonte International as well as places behind St Mark's Basilica in the Coral-Eclipse and Adayar in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes.

John Gosden, who is now in partnership with son Thady and is looking to add to his two runaway wins with Cracksman, has freshened Mishriff up since his stunning six-length defeat of Alenquer and Love in the Juddmonte International at York and is pleased to see the ground drying up.

Gosden said: “We've been happy with Mishriff since York and we are looking forward to running him again. It's always one race at a time, but we wanted to space his races in case we go on to run later in the year, possibly at the Breeders' Cup.

“It looks like being a good race and we should get better ground than last year, when he really didn't like it. He can handle soft, but last year it became specialists' ground. Full marks to all of the winners that day, but it's hard to quicken on that stuff.”

A decision upon the participation of Adayar is unlikely to be made until later in the week, but the Charlie Appleby-trained Qatar Prix De L'Arc De Triomphe fourth would be a fascinating contender for Godolphin, who were last successful with Farhh in 2013. Only Sir Ivor (1968) and New Approach (2008) have won both the Derby and the Champion Stakes in more than 50 years.

Aidan O'Brien, who won with Magical two years ago, can choose between two outstanding fillies in Love and Snowfall, both of whom are dual Classic winners, but they have also been confirmed for the QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes. O'Brien has also confirmed his Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes winner Bolshoi Ballet.

Other possibles include the Irish 2000 Guineas winner Mac Swiney and the high-class French three-year-old Sealiway, who was one place behind Adayar in the Arc, having won a Group 1 on the same weekend 12 months previously, plus Qatar Nassau Stakes winner Lady Bowthorpe, who has also been confirmed for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO).

Full Entries

Addeybb (IRE)
Al Aasy (IRE)
Euchen Glen (GB)
Helvic Dream (IRE)
Mishriff (IRE)
Lady Bowthorpe (GB)
Love (IRE)
Adayar (IRE)
Bolshoi Ballet (IRE)
Dubai Honour (IRE)
Foxes Tales (IRE)
Mac Swiney (IRE)
Sealiway (FR)
Snowfall (JPN)

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Gosdens Have Five Leading Contenders For Saturday’s Rich British Champions Day

A glittering cast is on course to illuminate the 10th anniversary of QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday after the five-day confirmations were revealed on Monday.

There are highlights at every turn, as befits Britain's most valuable raceday, which this year offers prize money of £4,091,250 (US$4,726,641), up 61 percent on last year's totals. The QIPCO Champion Stakes is set to be the richest race in the UK this year with £1.2 million (US$1.39 million) in prize money, with the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO) also run for in excess of £1 million (US$1.16 million).

In total, 26 Group 1 winners remain engaged and between them they have won 56 races at the highest level. Eight Classic winners remain in contention to run – including three of this year's British Classic winners in Mother Earth, Snowfall and Adayar.

It could be a momentous afternoon for John Gosden, now training in partnership with his son Thady, as he is set to saddle five leading contenders in six races – Stradivarius (QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup), Free Wind (QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares), Palace Pier (Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO)), Mishriff (QIPCO Champion Stakes) and Sunray Major, favorite for the Balmoral Handicap. The Champion Trainer will be seeking to add to his haul of eight winners on QIPCO British Champions Day – the same tally as Aidan O'Brien.

“QIPCO British Champions Day has become the definitive season-ending meeting. It's wonderfully sponsored and a great event, with Group 1s from six furlongs to a mile and a half, as well as a very valuable Group 2 for stayers, but I think what's most interesting to me is that it attracts a much younger crowd,” Gosden said.

“I've said this before, but it's very noticeable as you go through the grandstand that a lot of them are in their teens, twenties and thirties, and that's so important to our business if we are not going to wind up irrelevant. Ascot has a different feel on QIPCO British Champions Day, and that's a great positive. The more we can encourage it the better.”

William Haggas, who won last year's QIPCO Champion Stakes with Addeybb, is another big fan of the meeting. He said: “QIPCO British Champions Day is a huge and momentous occasion. It's the culmination of a long season in Britain. Everyone wants to win there.”

The going at Ascot is currently Good to Soft, Soft in places on the straight course, and Soft, Good to Soft places on the round course. The latest Going Stick readings were 7.7 (straight) and 5.4 (round).

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Addeybb On Course To Defend His Title In QIPCO Champion Stakes

Last year's emphatic QIPCO Champion Stakes winner Addeybb is firmly on course to defend his title in the £1.2 million (about US$1.42 million) contest, according to his trainer William Haggas.

Addeybb finished second in the race in 2019 before going one better last year, providing jockey Tom Marquand with the biggest victory of his career so far. Having since won a third Australian Group 1, taking his career earnings to more than £3.5m (over US$4m), he has now given Marquand four of his six Group 1 wins.

Since returning from Australia his campaign has been geared towards QIPCO British Champions Day, and Haggas, who has also entered rising star Baaeed, as well as Al Aasy, Alenquer and Mohaafeth, is understandably looking forward to it.

He said: “It was great to win the Champion Stakes last year, fantastic. Addeybb was really on his game that day too. If we can get him like that again that would be great.

“Right now he is in a field, but he will have a run before the Champion Stakes. He was a little bit rusty in the Eclipse and the ground wasn't really slow enough for him, but I thought he ran well and he kept going up the hill as usual. I am sure we will meet St Mark's Basilica again at Ascot. It's called the Champion Stakes for a reason. It's where the good ones go.”

Love has already made two visits to Ascot this year and could make a third to run in the QIPCO Champion Stakes. Last year's QIPCO 1000 Guineas and Investec Oaks winner landed the Prince of Wales's Stakes first time out this season, but suffered her first defeat for two years when third behind Derby winner Adayar in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes, for which she started favourite.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien said: “The King George was a little bit of a funny race. Our other horse Broome got left five lengths and he still ended up being able to make the running easily. Ryan (Moore) had to wait to make his run a lot later than he would have preferred and in the end she probably had no race at all.

“Where she goes next I am not sure but we will give her a little bit of time before we decide that. She seems to be in good form.”

Love is one of a host of O'Brien entries for this race, which also include the Coral-Eclipse Stakes winner St Mark's Basilica, the winner of two French Classics this year, plus the outstanding dual Oaks winner Snowfall and the likes of Bolshoi Ballet and Santa Barbara.

“St Mark's Basilica is in at York and Leopardstown and is entered on Champions Day as well,” O'Brien added. “We will get a little bit down the road before we really commit. Snowfall has the two entries (QIPCO Champion Stakes and QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares). We are looking at the Yorkshire Oaks at the moment for her.

“Bolshoi Ballet (entered for QIPCO Champion Stakes) is in America at the moment and he is going to run in Saratoga at the weekend in a Group 1 there. Santa Barbara (entered for QIPCO Champion Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes) is going back to America the following weekend for the mile and a quarter fillies' race. They will come back to Europe after that. Neither of them are soft ground horses.”

Last year's runner-up Skalleti is due to renew rivalry with Addeybb, his trainer Jerome Reynier having had a return to Ascot firmly in his sights all year.

Reynier said: “As a gelding the most prestigious race he could win is definitely the Champion Stakes, so we've been planning his season to bank on it. He is unbeaten in four starts this year and he now has three Group 1 wins under his belt.

“He will probably have one or two races before it and we really hope he will be able to have his ground on the day. He will probably go back to the Prix Dollar for a third time if he is in good form and the ground is soft enough, but we are aiming much for the Champion Stakes. If the ground is not soft enough for Arc weekend, he will be skipping the Prix Dollar.

“He had never run in a Group 1 prior to the Champion Stakes last year. The opposition was very high with Mishriff, Magical and Addeybb, but we were quite confident he'd run well. We really wanted to see how competitive he was going to be against those horses, and now we know we have one of the best horses in Europe on turf at a mile and a quarter.”

John Gosden, who enjoyed wide-margin wins here with Cracksman in 2017 and 2018, has two obvious candidates in Mishriff and Lord North. He has also entered Palace Pier here, as well as in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO).

He said: “Mishriff goes to York first for the Juddmonte and will then probably run in the Champion Stakes. Lord North is a possibility too. He had a throat infection and couldn't run in the Eclipse, so he hasn't run since Meydan in March, so he'll be coming fresh for the autumn.”

The race is also a possibility for last week's Qatar Nassau Stakes winner Lady Bowthorpe. Trainer William Jarvis said: “She's had a long season, but she's very tough and has an amazing constitution, so if she's still enjoying her work we'll definitely consider the Champion Stakes. In the meantime though we'll keep her against her own sex for as long as we can, and there's the Prix Jean Romanet and the Prix de l'Opera to look at before Ascot.”

No fewer than 26 individual Group 1 winning horses are entered for the QIPCO Champion Stakes who, between them, have accumulated 52 wins at the highest level.

Full Entries: Addeybb (IRE) Al Aasy (IRE) Armory (IRE) Benbatl (GB) Broome (IRE) Euchen Glen (GB) Helvic Dream (IRE) Innisfree (IRE) Japan (GB) Juan Elcano (GB) Lord North (IRE) Mishriff (IRE) Mogul (GB) Palace Pier (GB) Patrick Sarsfield (FR) Real World (IRE) Skalleti (FR) Stormy Antarctic (GB) Audarya (FR) Lady Bowthorpe (GB) Love (IRE) Tarnawa (IRE) Thundering Nights (IRE) Wonderful Tonight (FR) Adayar (IRE) Alenquer (FR) Bolshoi Ballet (IRE) Earlswood (GB) Foxes Tales (IRE) Highland Avenue (IRE) Lone Eagle (IRE) Mac Swiney (IRE) Master of The Seas (IRE) Mohaafeth (IRE) Mojo Star (IRE) Mostahdaf (IRE) Sealiway (FR) St Mark's Basilica (FR) Third Realm (GB) Joan of Arc (IRE) Mother Earth (IRE) Santa Barbara (IRE) Snowfall (JPN) Snow Lantern (GB)

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