G1 Queen Elizabeth II S.

Chain Of Lightning (Aus) (Fighting Sun {Aus}), the surprise winner of the G1 T. J. Smith S. at Randwick earlier this month, is set to be sold before a potential appearance in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on Saturday, June 22. Trained by Katherine Coleman and Peter Moody--who memorably won the same race at the Royal meeting with the brilliant Black Caviar (Aus) (Bel Esprit {Aus}) back in 2012--Chain Of Lightning was gaining her first victory at the top level when winning the T. J....

Leaving his G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. rivals strung out down Ascot's straight mile, Yeguada Centurion's Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}--Hardiyna {Ire}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}) produced a masterclass from the front under Aurelien Lemaitre in one of the great displays throughout the history of this prestigious affair. Quickly out on his own, the Christopher Head-trained 3-year-old who had not won since looking a force in the mud in the G3 Prix la Force and G3 Prix de Guiche this spring was always way beyond the reaches...

Storm Babet has decided the final shape of the fields for Saturday's Qipco Champions Day fixture, with the softening ground ruling Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) out of the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. and making up Aidan O'Brien's mind as to where to point Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}). That four-times group 1 winner takes up his engagement in the QEII, leaving a total of nine to take part in the G1 Qipco Champion S. Heading the list for the 10-furlong highlight is last year's winner Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay...

Multiple Group 1 winner Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) will run in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. at Ascot on QIPCO British Champions Day, owner Blue Diamond Stud announced via X (Twitter) on Wednesday evening. "Confirmed: Nashwa will run in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Saturday," Imad Al Sagar's operation tweeted. Al Sagar's homebred won both the G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Nassau S. as a 3-year-old for John and Thady Gosden. She added her third Group 1 in the Falmouth S. this July, and has...

The partnership framework between the Australian Turf Club (ATC) and QIPCO British Champions Day has been extended, and as part of this initiative, the respective trophies commemorating the late Queen Elizabeth II will be displayed internationally. Every April, the ATC stages the A$5-million G1 Queen Elizabeth S. at Royal Randwick, while in October, Ascot Racecourse runs the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. on QIPCO British Champions Day. The latter is set for Saturday, Oct. 21. The Randwick trophy will be part of the Hall of Fame exhibition in the main...

Group 3 winner Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) will likely start next in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. on British Champions S. Day at Ascot if the anticipated wet weather holds, Team Valor's Barry Irwin said Sunday. The 4-year-old gelding was most recently third behind Sauterne (Fr) (Kingman {GB}) in the G1 Prix Du Moulin de Longchamp on Sept. 3. "It's the plan and he could run on any type of surface, but he's better with some give in the ground and the wetter the better, like when he...

   Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), a five-time Group 1 winner, will start in either the GI Breeders' Cup Mile or on QIPCO British Champions Day, as connections mull their options. The star homebred of the Cheveley Park string, the 4-year-old could also potentially stay in training in 2024. Cheveley Park Stud's managing director Richard Thompson said of the John and Thady Gosden trainee, "We're looking at the QEII or the Breeders' Cup this season. It will be one of the two, we just don't know which one yet. It depends...

Four-time Group 1 winner Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) will be freshened until a likely start on QIPCO British Champions Day in October, trainer Aidan O'Brien revealed. After breaking his maiden at second asking at two, the Coolmore partners runner won his first six starts at three, including the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas, G1 St James's Palace S., G1 Eclipse and the G1 Sussex S. He suffered only his second career loss when a game third to Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Juddmonte International S. at York on Wednesday....

One of last term's leading juveniles, Teme Valley and Ballylinch Stud's Bayside Boy (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) took until Saturday to put it all together again as a 3-year-old and chose the big stage to do it on in Ascot's G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. He has now punched his ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Mile at Keeneland in November, if connections wish to travel. Anchored in rear early by Tom Marquand after a tardy break, the 33-1 shot who had enjoyed a confidence-boosting success in Sandown's Listed Fortune...

Jadoomi (Fr) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) has been supplemented for £70,000 to Saturday's G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. on QIPCO Champions Day at Ascot. The gelding is undefeated in three starts this season, including the G2 Boomerang S. at Leopardstown on Sept. 10. Likely favorite for the £1.1-million test is MG1SW Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), victorious most recently in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville in August. Also among possible runners for this weekend's feature are: French Classic winner Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), The Revenant (GB) (Dubawi...

Godolphin's G1 Cazoo Derby and G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. winner Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) might be seen once more this season in the G1 QIPCO Champion S. at Ascot on Oct. 16. Fourth in the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe after leading into the home straight, the bay has been pleasing trainer Charlie Appleby since his run in Paris. "He will be left in the Champion S. tomorrow, for the simple reason at the moment he has come out of the Arc well," Appleby...

Globetrotting multiple Group 1 winner Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who is fresh off a record-breaking G2 Joel S. victory at Newmarket, has been confirmed for QIPCO Champions Day on Oct. 16, as long as the ground is not too heavy. The Godolphin colourbearer, who has earned top-drawer victories in Dubai, Germany and Australia, was winning his second Joel S. His first start of the season was a second in the G2 Celebration Mile at Goodwood in August after almost a year away from the racecourse. Benbatl holds entries in both...