England: The inaugural £3 million (Dh17.98 million) QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on October 15 looks set to provide a stunning climax to the QIPCO British Champions Series after entries for the five championship contests in Britain's richest-ever raceday were revealed.
An outstanding entry of 31 horses for the £1 million Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Group One) — which will be by far the richest mile race ever run in Europe — includes the world's top four milers headed by superstar Frankel.
Also entered is the world's joint third highest rated miler, the brilliant French-trained mare Goldikova, who recorded her 14th success at the highest level with a record fourth consecutive victory in the Prix Rothschild at Deauville earlier.
The £1.3-million QIPCO Champion Stakes over one and a quarter miles, which will also be the richest race ever run in Britain over the distance, has attracted a similarly powerful entry of 40 horses, headed by three of the world's leading middle distance performers, including Southern Hemisphere champion So You Think.
Nathaniel was an impressive winner of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes for trainer John Gosden at Ascot while fellow three-year-old Pour Moi has been entered by French handler Andre Fabre following an exhilarating last-to-first success in the Investec Derby at Epsom Downs in June.
More spice may be added by the likes of Twice Over, who has triumphed in the past two renewals of the Champion Stakes at Newmarket.
Golden Jubilee Stakes victor Society Rock and Dream Ahead, successful in the Darley July Cup, headline an entry of 44 for the £250,000 Group Two QIPCO British Champions Sprint over six furlongs.
Strong entries
Other entries include Masamah, Moonlight Cloud and Wizz Kid, who beat Prohibit in the Group Two Prix du Gros-Chene at Chantilly in June.
Midday also features alongside Classic-winning three-year-olds Blue Bunting and Dancing Rain in the 40 entries for the £250,000 Group Two QIPCO British Champions Fillies and Mares over a mile and a half.
The 55 entries for the £200,000 Group Three QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup over two miles includes this year's Gold Cup victor Fame And Glory, Emirates Airline Yorkshire Cup winner Duncan and Opinion Poll, who posted a thrilling victory over Lost In The Moment, Blue Bajan and Fox Hunt in the Artemis Goodwood Cup last week.
Leading Ladbrokes St Leger contenders Sea Moon, Namibian and Masked Marvel may also line up alongside the progressive Keys, Hardwicke Stakes runner-up Harris Tweed and the Dermot Weld-trained Sense Of Purpose.
Consistent prize money
The two Group Two races and one Group Three contest all carry Group One conditions, with no penalties and prize money levels consistent with Group One races.
"We couldn't have asked for better QIPCO British Champions Day entries with the mouth-watering prospect of Frankel's last race of the season in the QE2, with the possibility of Goldikova and Dick Turpin as well, unquestionably topping the bill," said Rod Street, Chief Executive of the British Champions Series.
"In the Champions, So You Think may look to bow out from his European campaign on a massive high, perhaps against the fast improving King George winner, Nathaniel, while stars like Dream Ahead and Hoof It in the Sprint, Midday and Blue Bunting in the Fillies and Mares and all the top stayers in the Long Distance Cup promise to make this one of the most exciting Flat racedays that this country has ever seen.
"Getting 26 French-trained entries and 36 from Ireland has exceeded our expectations."
