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Exciting highlights to mark in all five Group 1 events on British Champions Day

Racehorses, victorious at Ffos Las and shining in Miler events, displaying improved performance at Glorious Goodwood, are our horses to keep an eye on

,   and  ASMedia
3 min read
Striking Points to Highlight in Every Race of the Five Group 1 Events at British Champions Day
Striking Points to Highlight in Every Race of the Five Group 1 Events at British Champions Day

Exciting highlights to mark in all five Group 1 events on British Champions Day

Get ready for an exciting day of horse racing as the Qipco British Champions Day returns to Ascot on October 18, 2025. This prestigious event features some of the most anticipated Group 1 races, attracting top contenders from around the globe.

Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup

This race, now a Group 1 event with a prize money of £500,000, has drawn 29 entries. Notable horses include the 2023 winner and Gold Cup hero, Trawlerman, trained by John & Thady Gosden. Other key contenders are former Gold Cup winner Courage Mon Ami, as well as Sweet William and French Master from Clarehaven. Aidan O’Brien's stable is well-represented with Scandinavia and Illinois, the one-two finishers from the Goodwood Cup, and the St Leger and Coronation Cup winner, Jan Brueghel. The field also includes horses from trainers W P Mullins, Tom Clover, K R Burke, such as Absurde, Al Nayyir, Al Qareem, Al Riffa, and Coltrane [1][2][3].

Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes

With 53 entries (the highest in 11 years), this race promises intense competition. French star Lazzat, the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes winner at Royal Ascot, leads the charge. Other notable contenders include British Group 1 sprint winners American Affair, Time For Sandals, and No Half Measures. The French entries Beauvatier, Daylight, Topgear, and Woodshauna are also worth watching. Last year's winner Kind Of Blue, trained by James Fanshawe, is set to defend his title [1].

Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes

Details about the specific contenders for this race in 2025 were not provided in the search results.

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes

No specific entries were provided for this race in the search results.

Qipco Champion Stakes

This race boasts a strong lineup of 38 entries. Calandagan, the recent King George winner and 2024 runner-up, trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, is a standout contender. Other notable horses include Delacroix, Ombudsman, and last year's winner Anmaat. Graffard's stable is further represented by the unbeaten Daryz and the 2024 King George winner, Goliath. Royal Champion, the recent York Stakes winner trained by Karl Burke, is also in the mix [4][5].

Other Notable Contenders

  • Fox Legacy, another interesting contender for the Qipco Champion Stakes, has won three times in four starts for Andrew Balding and supplemented his John Smith’s Cup success with a win in a conditions race at Glorious Goodwood last week.
  • Zilfee, a half-sister to the dual Arc winner Enable, made her belated return to action at Ffos Las last month and won under Luke Catton. However, she was disqualified due to a positive drug test in her maiden win at Kempton last year.
  • Economics, a four-time winner at three, has not been seen since finishing sixth in last year’s Champion Stakes and was found to have bled from the nose. He is making good progress and has been entered for the Qipco Champion Stakes, suggesting he will come into the autumn fresher than most.
  • Opera Ballo has four wins from five starts, with his sole defeat coming when sixth behind Field Of Gold in the Craven Stakes earlier this year.

This lineup reflects an exceptionally strong field across these premier Group 1 events on the British Champions Day card at Ascot. The anticipation is building, and the stage is set for an unforgettable day of horse racing.

[1] The Guardian

[2] Racing Post

[3] Sky Sports

[4] BBC Sport

[5] The Telegraph

  1. The Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup and the Qipco Champion Stakes will offer intense competition on the day, with a combined 67 entries from top trainers and contenders such as Trawlerman, Calandagan, and Fox Legacy.
  2. Apart from the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup and the Qipco Champion Stakes, other highly anticipated Group 1 races on the British Champions Day card at Ascot include the Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes, featuring Lazzat and American Affair, and the Qipco Champion Stakes, which will see the return of notable horses like Zilfee, Economics, and Opera Ballo.

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