Date: Wednesday, 2 October, 2013

QUEEN ELIZABETH II STAKES BOILING UP TO BE THE RACE OF OUR SEASON AS THE STARS STAND THEIR GROUND FOR QIPCO

The vs rematch looks very much on the cards in Europe’s richest mile race, the £1m Queen Elizabeth II Stakes sponsored by QIPCO (Group 1).

A positive bulletin about Toronado has been made by Richard Hannon Jnr as the scratchings are announced for the five Group races on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday 19 October.

Dawn Approach leads 2-1 after his QIPCO 2000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes victories, but Toronado has the most recent triumph to his name after landing the QIPCO .

With the likes of , , , , Soft Falling Rain, Declaration Of War, , Gordon Lord Byron and amongst the 26 remaining engaged, it could become one of the most eagerly awaited mile races for many years.

Some have alternative engagements in the £1.3m QIPCO (Group 1), Europe’s richest mile and a quarter race in which 24 horses remain engaged, notably Toronado, Maxios, Farhh, Sky Lantern, Declaration Of War and Magician, but Toronado looks like heading for the QE2.

Richard Hannon Jr said: "No firm plans have been made yet but there is every chance that we will be represented in both races.

"Toronado has had a small procedure done on his palate and the way that he is progressing now there is an excellent chance that he will make it back for Champions Day. He is back working well and the QE2 is the more likely race for him.

"Sky Lantern has come out of the Sun Chariot really well and has the option of running in both races, we need to talk it over with her owner.

"Olympic Glory did not turn very well when he finished second in the Prix du Moulin in France so the straight mile of the QE2 ought to suit him.

"Montiridge ran the race of his life in the , he’s a very good horse. The QE2 is a possibility for him, but he has targets in Dubai in March and other options beforehand.” Alan Cooper, racing manager to the Niarchos Family, said about Maxios, the impressive winner of the Group 1 Prix du Moulin last month, said: "He has been in very good form since the Moulin.

"He has been left in both the QE2 and the Champion Stakes to keep our options open – we will decide nearer the time.

"The Moulin was a great result for Maxios and a reward for the patience that has been vested in him.

" is also a possible for the Champion Stakes.”

Cirrus des Aigles, winner in 2011 and runner-up to last year, remains engaged in the QIPCO Champion Stakes after his return to form at Maisons-Laffitte last time out, while other Group 1 winners to have stood their ground include , , Magician, and The Fugue.

QIPCO British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes

There is a third Group 1 race this year with the upgrading of the £500,000 QIPCO British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes, now the most valuable all-aged fillies and mares race in Europe.

The 18 remaining engaged include the one-two from this year’s Investec Oaks, the Ralph Beckett-trained and Secret Gesture, South African Group 1 winning star Igugu, who made a good comeback over a mile at Newmarket last week, and German Group 1 wnners, Nymphea and Temida.

Beckett said of his Investec Oaks winner and Ladbrokes St Leger runner-up: "I was delighted with Talent’s run in the St Leger and the QIPCO British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes is the obvious place to take her to end her year – the plan is that she will stay in training.

"Talent is better with some juice in the ground and she is more likely to get that at Ascot than anywhere else.

"I think Ascot will suit her well and I am not sure that the drop back in trip will make much difference to her. As she gets older I think that she will be less dependent on having to be dropped out and ridden from behind.

"The QIPCO British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes is a possibility for Secret Gesture but she is likely to run in the Prix de l’Opera at Longchamp this Sunday. After that we’ll see….”

Five French-trained fillies and mares remain engaged, including Dalkala, who defeated the subsequent Group 1 winner, Ambivalent, who also remains engaged, in the Betfred Middleton Stakes at York in May.

Lady Cecil’s highly regarded Hot Snap, for whom this will be a first try at a mile and a half, a distance she looks to be crying out for on the evidence of her last two starts, has stood her ground along with Michael Bell’s Group 2 DFS Park Stakes winner, The Lark.

QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes

Last year’s 1-2-3, Maarek, who returned to form at Newbury last time, Hawkeyethenoo and Sirius Prospect, have stood their ground in the £350,000 QIPCO British Champions Sprint (Group 2, no penalties).

Also engaged is classy sprinter and three heavyweights from the Eddie Lynam yard, , Slade Power and Viztoria. Lynam also has Balmont Mast in the race.

Aidan O’Brien has left Cristoforo Colombo and the Jersey Stakes winner Gale Force Ten in the race for which 32 remain engaged.

QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup

The Queen’s Gold Cup winner, the Sir -trained , remains engaged in the £200,000 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup (Group 3, no penalties) along with the one-two from last year, Rite Of Passage and Aiken.

Rite Of Passage, won won the Gold Cup in 2010, has not run since his victory last year and it would be another remarkable training performance by if he could follow up this year.

Weld has also left in the very impressive Irish St Leger winner, , and Pale Mimosa.

Artemis winner, , has stood his ground though the remains a more likely target, while the Weatherbys Hamilton Insurance winner, Ahzeemah, the Speedy Services 1-2, Times Up and High Jinx, the fast-improving Tac De Boistron, the 2012 Gold Cup winner, , and last year’s Irish St Leger winner, , are others to note amongst the 29 left in.

Ticket Sales

Tickets are continuing to sell strongly with a Premier sell-out now close. Premier tickets are priced at £55 and Grandstand admission is £30.

You can book via the Ascot website www.ascot.co.uk or call 0844 346 3000. Under 18’s accompanied by an adult will be admitted free of charge.

Rod Street quote

Rod Street, Chief Executive of Ltd, said: "It’s building up to be another outstanding day’s racing with the QE2 looking exceptional.

"The Dawn Approach-Toronado rematch looks to be on, but they are by no means guaranteed to have the race to themselves with all the other top class milers that have stood their ground.

"The QIPCO Champion Stakes will be very strong too while the other three races are set to be great contests in their own right. In all we have the winners of 20 of the 30 Series races run so far this season remaining engaged. "With the Sir exhibition to interest racegoers off the track and more attractions which we will be announcing soon, it promises to be another memorable QIPCO British Champions Day.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Nick Smith, Ascot, 07771 791449 Nick Attenborough, Great British Racing, 07714 146528