Star fillies all set for QIPCO British Champions Day

Estimate is all set to run for The Queen on Saturday week. Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

The Queen’s filly Estimate, last seen on the track when winning Europe’s greatest staying race, the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in June, is all set to defend her unbeaten Ascot record in the £200,000 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot on Saturday 19 October.

Also set for Britain’s richest raceday are John Gosden’s pair of top class fillies, The Fugue and Elusive Kate, as well as third “dark horse” filly, Pomology, who is unbeaten in three races but is yet to tackle top class opposition.

Estimate, trained by Sir Michael Stoute in Newmarket, is unbeaten in three races at the Royal racecourse and thrilled The Queen at Ascot in June.

She could be set to do so again with her racing manager, John Warren, saying: “Estimate is still all on target for Champions Day and has been pleasing us at home.”

Gosden, meanwhile, will be keeping a close eye on the weather between now and Saturday week.

He has The Fugue, who ran away with the Darley Yorkshire Oaks before defeating Al Kazeem and Trading Leather in the Irish Champion Stakes, in the £1.3m QIPCO Champion Stakes. Elusive Kate is on track for the £1m Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, a race she finished third in last year.

He said: “The Fugue and Elusive Kate are both intended Champions Day runners at this stage.

“Elusive Kate would like a drop of rain while The Fugue needs better ground – as ever, it is very much a case of watching the weather for her.

“I also hope to run Pomology in the British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes.”

All the races have the makings of cracking contests with Cirrus des Aigles looking to regain his QIPCO Champion Stakes crown which he lost to Frankel last year, a fourth showdown between Dawn Approach and Toronado in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and plenty of other top milers in against them, Estimate’s bid for glory for The Queen in the Long Distance Cup, Maarek looking to defend his crown in the Sprint and a top class Fillies & Mares which has just been upgraded to Group 1 status.

Premier tickets are priced at £55 and Grandstand admission is £30. You can book via the Ascot website www.ascot.co.uk or call 0844 346 3000. Under 18’s accompanied by an adult will be admitted free of charge.