High Quality Entries For Dettori’s European Swansong at QIPCO British Champions Day

Some of the stars of global Flat racing are among the entries for what is set to be a breath-taking running of QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday 21st October – a day which will be Hall of Fame jockey Frankie Dettori’s final raceday in Europe.

The equine cast of entries for the richest raceday in Great Britain features the star of the summer in Paddington, winner of four Group 1s including most recently the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown and the Qatar Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. 

The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt is entered for both the QIPCO Champion Stakes, the richest mile and a quarter race in Europe, with a value of £1.3 million and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO), the richest mile race in Europe (£1.1 million).

The three remaining pattern races on the card each offer a prize fund of £500,000, meaning prize money for this year’s QIPCO British Champions Day will total £4.1 million, cementing its position as the richest raceday in the British calendar and the only day to feature four Group 1 prizes.

Entries also include the unbeaten Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) winner Ace Impact and the last two Betfred Derby winners in Auguste Rodin and Desert Crown, as well as other Group 1 stars in the shape of the impressive Prince of Wales’s winner Mostahdaf and star sprinter Shaquille, winner of both the Commonwealth Cup and the Pertemps Network July Cup this season.

Four of last year’s QIPCO British Champions Day winners are set to defend their races in the shape of Bay Bridge (QIPCO Champion Stakes), Emily Upjohn (QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes), Kinross (QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes) and Trueshan (QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup). Last year, Trueshan became the first horse to win a race three consecutive times at QIPCO British Champions Day, and the Alan King-trained star will be looking to extend that record this year.

This year’s QIPCO British Champions Day will be an unmissable event with one of world racing’s best-known figures in Dettori riding for the last time in Great Britain and Europe.

Frankie’s Final Farewell set to be a cracker

Racing’s greatest showman is hoping for one last flying dismount at a meeting which has yielded many magic moments, including the likes of two-time QIPCO Champion Stakes winner Cracksman, recent Hall of Fame public vote winner Stradivarius (QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup winner in 2018) and two winners last year in the shape of Emily Upjohn and Kinross.

“It was very good last year with Emily Upjohn coming back to win after a long layoff and then Kinross, my favourite horse, winning first the Prix de la Forȇt at Longchamp and then 13 days later the QIPCO British Champions Sprint.

“I was a bit disappointed with Inspiral, who blew the start and it was a non-event in the QEII but she could be back and I’m sure John and Thady (Gosden) will have something for the race this year. It is a race that has been lucky for us.

“Another highlight was Cracksman, who gave me a first win after years of trying in the QIPCO Champion Stakes in 2017 and won it again the next year.”

One of the all-time greats of the turf has chosen Ascot for his home farewell, appropriately as the Royal racecourse has witnessed some of Dettori’s greatest moments.

QIPCO British Champions Day is a great concept with great prize money. Racing for the kind of money which the rest of the world is doing more regularly

His ‘Magnificent Seven’ at Ascot in 1996 when winning all seven races, including the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Mark Of Esteem, remains the most iconic racing event in living memory. Four winners at Royal Ascot this year took his total to 81 at the meeting and total prize-money in all Ascot races past a phenomenal £27m in his 36 years in the saddle.

Dettori, 52, said: “QIPCO British Champions Day is a great concept with great prize money. Racing for the kind of money which the rest of the world is doing more regularly.

“It was very hard to pick my last day riding in England. I had thought about Newmarket the week before but Ascot is my favourite track with so many great memories. It is going to be a special day and my family is going to be there.

“I don’t want to take the gloss off the day. The day is about the best day’s racing and not about my last day riding here before I go to America for the Breeders’ Cup and then Australia and Hong Kong before retiring at the end of the year.”