Frankel and Frankie get the QIPCO British Champions Series off to a dream start

Frankie Dettori, recently announced as the face of the QIPCO British Champions Series, took little time to make his own mark on the 35 race series by winning the second race, the QIPCO 1000 Guineas at Newmarket this afternoon, on the Mahmood Al Zarooni-trained Blue Bunting.

He was following on from Frankel’s awe-inspiring victory for trainer Henry Cecil and jockey Tom Queally in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas the previous day.

Chris McFadden, British Champions Series Chairman, said: “We’ve been lucky enough to have the dream start to the QIPCO British Champions Series. Frankel put up one of the all-time great performances to earn himself superstar status in yesterday’s big race, giving Henry Cecil his 25th British Classic victory, and today the world’s best-known jockey, Frankie Dettori, lit up Newmarket in his own inimitable way.

“Blue Bunting looks like a potential champion in her own right and she and Frankel have summed up perfectly what the QIPCO British Champions Series is all about – putting our top Flat races in the spotlight. We have the best racing in the world in this country and through the Series we now have a stronger platform than ever before to promote it to the world.

“Frankel and Frankie both have huge parts to play in the unfolding of the Series over the coming five and a half months and we now look forward to more stories emerging from the upcoming races – the Emirates Airline Yorkshire Cup at York on Friday 13 May and the JLT Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on Saturday 14 May.”

Jockey of the QIPCO British Champions Series – leaderboard after 2 races

Frankie Dettori 1
Tom Queally 1

Trainer of the QIPCO British Champions Series – leaderboard after 2 races

Mahmood Al Zarooni 1
Henry Cecil 1

Both championships are decided on the number of winners ridden/trained across the 35 race series. In the event of a tie, the number of seconds and thirds (and, if necessary, lower placings) will be taken into account. The winners will be presented with a specially commissioned trophy on QIPCO British Champions at Ascot on Saturday 15 October and their nominated charity will receive a cheque for £25,000.