Green and Blues stake their claim for Champions Day glory

Green Destiny wins the Dubai Duty Free Arc Trial at Newbury.  Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

Green Destiny and Deacon Blues warmed up in fine style yesterday for the biggest engagements of their careers on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday 15 October.

They both registered victories in Group 3 races at Newbury, Green Destiny giving weight to all his rivals to take the 1m 3f Dubai Duty Free Arc Trial by half a length and Deacon Blues winning the five furlong Dubai International World Trophy by an easy length.

Green Destiny now heads for Britain’s richest ever race, the £1.3m QIPCO Champion Stakes over 1m 2f, while Deacon Blues will target the £250,000 QIPCO British Champions Sprint over six furlongs.

“He is a good horse and I suspect we’ll have a dart at the Champion Stakes,” said William Haggas, the trainer of Green Destiny who has now won six of his nine career starts.

“He did well to win from as far back as he was and is obviously smart.

"We’ll miss the Prix Dollar (at Longchamp on Arc Weekend) to give him a bit more time before the Champion Stakes.”

James Fanshawe, Deacon Blues’ trainer, is set to be double-handed in the QIPCO British Champions Sprint as he also plans to run Society Rock.

Society Rock won the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in June which was followed 35 minutes later by Deacon Blues’ victory in the Wokingham Handicap.

Deacon Blues, for whom this was a first ever run over the minimum trip of five furlongs, is a warm favourite for the big Ascot contest having looked so impressive in his last four starts.

“This five furlongs does give him another string to his bow, but six gives him more of a chance to travel and he is much more likely to go to Ascot,” said Fanshawe yesterday, appearing to rule out a trip to Longchamp for the five furlong Prix de l’Abbaye 13 days before QIPCO British Champions Day.

“Deacon Blues is a super horse and it’s very exciting. Both he and Society Rock like Ascot.”

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