Champions Day stars back in 2012…and several still have big targets this year

Frankel captures the imagination of the international media after his brilliant victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on QIPCO British Champions Day last month.  Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

The star names from the inaugural QIPCO British Champions Day look set to grace next year’s QIPCO British Champions Series and, perhaps, return for another appearance on QIPCO British Champions at Ascot on Saturday 20 October 2012.

The five brilliant British Champions Day winners, Frankel, Cirrus Des Aigles, Dancing Rain, Fame And Glory and Deacon Blues, are all set to stay in training, while the second and third in both the QIPCO Champion Stakes – So You Think and Snow Fairy – and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes sponsored by QIPCO – Excelebration and Immortal Verse – appear likewise highly likely to continue their racing careers next year.

Since QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot last month, So You Think has finished sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and Snow Fairy has won her second Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup in Japan (in which Dancing Rain disappointed) in sensational style.

There could be more success ahead in the Far East for QIPCO British Champions Series stars as Cirrus Des Aigles, Snow Fairy and Excelebration are all bound for the big international races in Hong Kong on 11 December, where they are likely to be joined by QIPCO British Champions Series sprint stalwarts Bated Breath and Sole Power.

Immortal Verse, meanwhile, will contest the Mile Championship at Kyoto in Japan this Sunday.

Frankel’s 2012 plans

Sir Henry Cecil, who received his knighthood at Buckingham Palace this week, has outlined likely targets for the world’s best racehorse, Frankel, in the early part of next season.

"Frankel has had a great year and is hugely exciting,” says the master of Warren Place on his website.

“He really has caught the public eye and it was great that he has given an interest to so many people.

"Hopefully he will go on and I hope, by the time of the Eclipse Stakes, he will be ready to tackle a mile and a quarter.

“Personally I think it is a distance he will get well now that he has learnt to settle better and he could be an even better horse at that trip.

"Let’s hope he winters well and remains sound. Racing needs champions and let us pray that he can continue where he left off."

His first target of the season is likely to be the JLT Lockinge Stakes over a mile at Newbury on Saturday 19th May.

If he is to wait until the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park on Saturday 7 July to step up to ten furlongs, it must be likely that he will contest the Queen Anne Stakes over a mile which opens Royal Ascot on Tuesday 19 June.

For the full calendar of 2012 QIPCO British Champions Series races, CLICK HERE.