A star-studded cast remains on course for the 13th running of QIPCO British Champions Day on Saturday, October 21 at Ascot.
Paddington, the winner of four Group One races this term, is still engaged in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and the QIPCO Champion Stakes, while Prince of Wales’s Stakes and Juddmonte International victor Mostahdaf could also take his place in the QIPCO Champion Stakes, which is the richest mile and a quarter race in Europe at a value of £1.3 million.
The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is also the richest mile race in Europe at £1.1 million.
The three remaining pattern races on the card each offer a prize fund of £500,000, meaning prize money for this year’s QIPCO British Champions Day will total £4.1 million, cementing its position as the richest raceday in the British calendar and the only day to feature four Group One prizes.
Trueshan remains entered for the QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup after his impressive win in the Group One Prix du Cadran at Paris-Longchamp during Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend.
He and Hollie Doyle became the first pair to win a race three consecutive times at QIPCO British Champions Day last year and they will bid to extend that record October 21.
Other winners from Arc weekend who retained their entry include Horizon Dore from France in the QIPCO Champion Stakes, after he demonstrated incredible acceleration to sweep home from last to first in the Qatar Prix Dollar on Saturday.
The day will mark legendary jockey Frankie Dettori’s final raceday in Europe, with a special presentation to be made to him at Ascot on the day.
There will also be two inductions made into the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame on the day, with the new Hall of Famers presented with a specially commissioned medal manufactured by Asprey.
Meanwhile, there will be a Hall of Fame exhibition in the grandstand on the day, to celebrate the two new inductees, as well as those already in the Hall of Fame.
A new addition to QIPCO British Champions Day this year will be an elite horses-in-training sale held in the parade ring ahead of racing. The Goffs QIPCO British Champions Day Sale at Ascot will feature up to 12 lots, with the auction conducted from the winner’s podium.
And after racing, the show will go on with the QIPCO British Champions Day After Party, with Charlotte Stapleton kicking things off before iconic electronic music duo Groove Armada bring the day to a close.
