Solow and Gleneagles still set for Queen Elizabeth II Stakes clash

The clash of the season between Solow and Gleneagles in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on QIPCO British Champions Day is still on after the pair were declared for the Ascot contest this Saturday.

QIPCO 2000 Guineas champion Gleneagles and Qatar Sussex Stakes hero Solow feature among the 9 final declarations, including French raider Territories and Clive Cox’s unexposed Kodi Bear.

Sir Michael Stoute’s heroine Integral, who is likely to retire after her run in the mile race, Champions Day favourite Top Notch Tonto and the Andrew Balding-trained Elm Park are among the other contenders.

Andre Fabre on Territories: “I am very happy with Territories – his work has been good. He would prefer good ground but the straight course should not be as soft as the round course. 

“He has not run since August but he is quite a light horse who does not need much work. Comparing the progress he and Gleneagles have made since they finished second and first in the 2000 Guineas is difficult because neither has run for a long time. What I would say is that Territories is quite a late foal, he was born almost four months after Gleneagles, so that might allow him to have made greater progress since the spring.”

On Elm Park’s Queen Elizabeth II Stakes bid, Balding said: “Having talked it through with his owner [Sheikh Fahad] we have decided to run Elm Park in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes rather than the Champion Stakes. He is unbeaten in four career starts over a mile. 

“I have been very happy with him since his recent Sandown win and he appears to be in top form at home, although his home work had always been good.”

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes declarations:

Solow, Gleneagles, Kodi Bear, Territories, Elm Park, Integral, Belardo, Top Notch Tonto and Gabrial.