Sensational day in the Ascot sunshine

Frankel returns in triumph after his magnificent Queen Elizabeth II Stakes triumph.  Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

A record crowd for an autumn raceday in the modern era witnessed a sensational day of racing at a sun-drenched Ascot as five equine stars wrote their names into the record books on QIPCO British Champions Day.

Frankel, the best horse in the world, led the way with his awesome four length victory in the £1m Queen Elizabeth II Stakes sponsored by QIPCO, so maintaining his 100% career record.

Cirrus Des Aigles recorded a memorable victory for France in the richest race ever run in Britain, the £1.3m QIPCO Champion Stakes.

Dual Oaks heroine Dancing Rain made all to land the QIPCO British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes, Deacon Blues staked his claim to the title of Europe’s champion sprinter with a scintillating victory in the QIPCO British Champions Sprint, while the world’s best stayer, Fame And Glory, came back to his best to land the QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup.

The atmosphere crackled from start to finish, the reception for Frankel was truly remarkable and British racing was the biggest winner of all. 

Rod Street, Chief Executive of British Champions Series Ltd, said: "The quality of the racing has been exceptional – to have six of the nine best horses in the world competing here today was a massive statement in itself – and with a crowd of 26,749 we are obviously delighted to have achieved a record for an autumn raceday in the modern era.

"Britain has the best racing in the world and today certainly proved that.  I thought that the atmosphere was very special indeed.

"With Frankel the undoubted star of the show, we couldn’t have asked for more in the first year of the QIPCO British Champions Series and QIPCO British Champions Day.

"I would like to express a huge “thank you” to the owners and trainers who have supported this day with their best horses.

"We now have a great deal of work to do over the winter, reviewing what has gone well from both a Series and a Day point of view and building on the great foundations we have laid this year."