A total of 227 entries have been received for the five Group contests scheduled to take place on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot, it was announced on Tuesday. This is the largest number since 2018 and includes a record 56-strong entry for the G1 QIPCO Champion Stakes, the feature race on the card slated for Saturday, October 19.
The 56 horses entered for the Champion Stakes have won 37 Group 1 races between them, with Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) boasting the most decorated CV as a six-time winner at the top level. Aidan O'Brien has also entered star three-year-olds City Of Troy and Opera Singer, both by Justify, while another leading Irish-trained contender is White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}), who defeated Auguste Rodin when winning the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh in May.
Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), a spectacular winner of the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, is one of six French-trained entries. The others include Mario Baratti's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains scorer Metropolitan (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), while the pick of the home team could be William Haggas's Economics (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), a wide-margin winner of the G2 Dante Stakes at York when last seen in competitive action in May.
Metropolitan also holds an entry in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Sponsored by QIPCO) in which his rivals could include Godolphin's G1 2,000 Guineas and G1 Sussex Stakes hero Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), who won May's G1 Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh, is another Classic winner in contention, but battle-hardened older horses such as Roger Varian's G1 Queen Anne Stakes victor Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) should ensure that the three-year-olds don't have things all their own way.
Opera Singer is one of 10 entries for Ballydoyle in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Filles & Mares Stakes, while last year's runner-up, Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}), could attempt to go one place better, having found only Goliath too strong when contesting the King George on her most recent start. 2022 winner Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is another notable entry, despite disappointing in the G1 Nassau Stakes won by Opera Singer at Goodwood last time.
The contenders for the G1 QIPCO Champions Sprint Stakes feature a number of horses who have already tasted success at the top level in 2024, including Lockinge Stakes winner Audience (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}), Commonwealth Cup hero Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal) and July Cup scorer Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}).
In the G2 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup, Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) can be expected to take star billing if allowed to take his chance, having returned to the top of the staying tree this year with his back-to-back Group 1 victories in the Gold Cup and Goodwood Cup. Royal Ascot runner-up Trawlerman (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}), who beat Kyprios by a neck when winning this race in 2023, could be in opposition once again, along with three-time winner Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) and last year's Gold Cup victor Courage Mon Ami (GB) (Frankel {GB}).
The second entry stage for the Group races on QIPCO British Champions Day is on Tuesday, October 1. The supplementary stage is on Monday, October 14.
A Score-And-A-Half Remain In Sun Chariot Mix
Opera Singer (Justify), fresh off a victory in the G1 Nassau Stakes over Andrew Balding's See The Fire (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), leads the 30 remaining entries in the G1 Virgin Bet Sun Chariot Stakes, which were also announced on Tuesday. The Newmarket contest, set for Saturday, Oct. 5, also features Nassau fourth Elmalka (GB) (Kingman {GB}), a winner of the G1 1000 Guineas for trainer Roger Varian. The Aidan O'Brien-trained filly is one of several in the race for the Coolmore partners, who also run G1 Fillies' Mile heroine Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}), G1 Irish Oaks runner-up Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and maiden winner Wingspan (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).
The G1 Falmouth Stakes one-three Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) and A Lilac Rolla (Ire) (Harry Angel {Ire}) have been entered, while John and Thady Gosden have six entered, including Group 1 winners Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Of the two French-trained runners, the Wertheimer brothers' Kelina (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) is aiming to bounce back to the form that saw her win the 2023 G1 Prix de la Foret.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
