Big guns stand their ground in the two big races

Dawn Approach, seen here winning the QIPCO 2000 Guineas, is ready to sign off with a bang! Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

Cirrus des Aigles, Declaration Of War, Farhh, Mukhadram, Kingsbarns, Ruler Of The World, Trading Leather and Sky Lantern have all been confirmed today for the £1.3m QIPCO Champion Stakes, Europe’s most valuable ten-furlong race, at Ascot this Saturday.

Also confirmed amongst the 15 contenders are Hunter’s Light, Main Sequence, Parish Hall, Hillstar, Magician, Morandi and Triple Threat.

Only The Fugue, taken out due to the softening ground at Ascot, is missing.

In the £1m Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, Europe’s richest mile race, Dawn Approach, Toronado, Maxios, Soft Falling Rain, Olympic Glory, Elusive Kate and Gordon Lord Byron have all been confirmed along with QIPCO Champion Stakes confirmations Declaration Of War, Farhh, Kingsbarns, Magician and Sky Lantern.

Amongst the 17 confirmations are also Burwaaz, Caspar Netscher, Gregorian, Leitir Mor and Top Notch Tonto who has been supplemented for the race at a cost of £70,000.    

They promise two sensational races on QIPCO British Champions Day!

The weather could play a big hand with the likes of Cirrus des Aigles, Dawn Approach, Maxios, Olympic Glory, Elusive Kate and Gordon Lord Byron all proven in softer conditions, not to mention the supplemented Top Notch Tonto who is described by his trainer as "a stone better on soft ground". That did not stop him winning a Listed Race last time out on good-to-firm though!

Cirrus des Aigles is now a red-hot favourite for the QIPCO Champion Stakes after winning the race in 2011 and making Frankel work hard when runner-up last year.

He came back to form after a below-par season nine days ago at Longchamp when he won his third Prix Dollar.

Amongst his toughest opponents could be Farhh, who is also entered in the QE2 but with Godolphin having Dawn Approach in that race, may be more likely to go for the Champion.

Mukhadram worked on the Rowley Mile on Saturday and pleased his connections and would rate a big threat on this year’s form, while the English and Irish Derby winners, Ruler Of The World and Trading Leather, cannot be underestimated. Declaration Of War may be an unlikely runner if softer ground prevails, as seems likely.

The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes could be the race of the day with Dawn Approach looking to sign off in style, but the Hannon pair of Toronado and Olympic Glory, both top notch milers, French ace Maxios, who hacked up in a Goup 1 race last time, and South African monster Soft Falling Rain, who has only ever been beaten once when he was not fully fit, look formidable opponents.

Another Dawn Approach vs Toronado rematch would be very special, but Olympic Glory would be a worthy subsitute if the ground is deemed too soft for Toronado.

That’s without mentioning last year’s third, Elusive Kate and the easy Betfred Sprint Cup winner, Gordon Lord Byron, who will both relish soft ground.

Get along to Ascot if you possibly can! Tickets are still available and an amazing day is in store with five fantastic Group races, a Sir Hency Cecil exhibition and a display of some of the world’s most famous sporting trophies.

To book, CLICK HERE.