Excelebration confirmed for QEII

Excelebration wins the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury in August.  Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

Excelebration is the latest in a long line of equine stars from the 2011 Flat season who will be at Ascot on Saturday week (15 October) for Britain’s richest ever raceday, QIPCO British Champions Day.

The Marco Botti-trained miler, who scored his first Group 1 race victory in the Qatar Prix Du Moulin at Longchamp last month, was being considered for the Breeders’ Cup Mile in the USA in early November, but now looks set to run in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes sponsored by QIPCO instead.

His participation in the by far the most valuable mile race ever run in Europe sets up a fantastic showdown with the horse of the year so far, Frankel, who will be trying to make it nine career victories out of nine, and France’s top miler, Immortal Verse, who won the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Prix Jacques Le Marois (comfortably beating Goldikova) in her last two starts.

Excelebration has twice finished behind Frankel – in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury in April and the St James’s Palace at Royal Ascot in June.  Can he make it third time lucky?

Botti told sportinglife.com: "He’s been in good nick, I’m pleased with the horse and everything is going well for Ascot.

"We’ll keep an eye on the weather and the ground, but he’s being trained for Ascot now

"He has improved and is a stronger horse now. Whether it will be enough to beat Frankel, who knows?

"Frankel beat us just over two lengths last time but I’m hoping Excelebration has come on since his run in the St James’s Palace and we might close the gap at Ascot.

"The Breeders’ Cup is unlikely now. If he runs at Ascot it’s very unlikely he’ll run in both."

The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is one of five outstanding championship races at Ascot on Saturday, each proving the climax to its QIPCO British Champions Series division.

The most valuable race on the card is the £1.3m QIPCO Champion Stakes in which middle distance stars like Nathaniel, So You Think, Twice Over and Midday could clash in a fantastic, season-ending showdown.

To book Grandstand tickets via Ascot at the advance booking price of £23.40 (Premier tickets have sold out), CLICK HERE.