Singapore star Emperor Max in line for #ChampionsDay showdown

Kodi Bear stretches clear at Ascot. Image copyright of Turfclub.com.

Singapore sprinter Emperor Max will fly to England on Saturday ahead of a bid to beat Europe’s top sprinter Muhaarar and be crowned the first non-European-based QIPCO British Champions Day champion at Ascot.

The six-year-old, who won his preparation run at Kranji earlier this month, has finished second in the last two renewals of the Group 1 International Sprint in Singapore.

Emperor Max’s connections have now set their sights on victory at Ascot in the newly-upgraded Group 1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes and are excited about the possibility of winning on Champions Day.

Stephen Gray, trainer of Emperor Max, said: “We are stepping into the unknown bringing Emperor Max to Britain but we are not coming for nothing as Max is a true race horse and a tough customer. He is very relaxed and when you look at his form he is pretty remarkable. He keeps turning up and tries.

“It is a great story about simple people, Gordon and Ernest Yau, that bred a horse, their only horse, and now they are going to run at Ascot.

“For me and my family, it is a dream. I was at Ascot the day that Black Caviar won and I said then that it would be a dream to bring a horse here one day.

“My family will be coming over including my two children, aged 14 and 12, who are very excited as it will be their first chance to watch Max race live – the strict government rules in Singapore do not allow children to go to the races.

“It is also a dream for Corey Brown, one of Australia’s best jockeys and a Melbourne Cup winner, who will ride Max. And my head lad, Peter Hutton, a former jockey in England, is also very excited.”

Hutton, who will be travelling with Emperor Max, are set to arrive at Jane Chapple-Hyam’s Abington Place in Newmarket late on Saturday night.

He is also looking forward to running the star sprinter on Champions Day.

He said: “Emperor Max is as good a sprinter as I have had anything to do with, certainly much better than the majority I saw in the US.

“He’s a very intelligent horse who will take the trip to the UK in his stride. Nothing bothers him. We are all looking forward to the trip as it will be great for Singapore to have their top sprinter at Ascot on Champions Day.”

To book your place at QIPCO British Champions Day 2015, head to the ticketing website.