THE ULTIMATE RACEDAY SATURDAY 19 OCTOBER 2019 ASCOT RACECOURSE MEDIA GUIDE QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS DAY MEDIA GUIDE CONTENTS 04 The QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup 08 The QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes 12 The QIPCO British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes 17 The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO) 22 The QIPCO Champion Stakes 28 The Balmoral Handicap (sponsored by QIPCO) 29 Records of winning jockeys on QIPCO British Champions Day 31 Records of winning trainers on QIPCO British Champions Day 33 The Flat Jockeys’ Championships 34 QIPCO British Champions Series Ambassadors 35 Movember – QIPCO British Champions Series Charity Partner 36 Background to QIPCO British Champions Series and QIPCO British Champions Day 37 About QIPCO Holding 38 Tickets and travel details to Ascot PAGE 02 QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS DAY MEDIA GUIDE THE ULTIMATE RACEDAY SATURDAY 19TH OCTOBER 2019 ASCOT RACECOURSE RACE DAY PROGRAMME 10.30AM GATES OPEN* 1:30PM QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS LONG DISTANCE CUP (GROUP 2) NO PENALTIES, 3-y-o and up, 2 miles (3200 metres), round course 2:10PM QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS SPRINT (GROUP 1) 3-y-o and up, 6 furlongs (1200 metres), straight course 2:45PM QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS FILLIES & MARES STAKES (GROUP 1) 3-y-o and up, 1 mile and four furlongs (2400 metres), round course 3:20PM QUEEN ELIZABETH II STAKES SPONSORED BY QIPCO (GROUP 1) 3-y-o and up, 1 mile (1600) metres 4:00PM QIPCO CHAMPION STAKES (GROUP 1) 3-y-o and up, 1 mile and 2 furlongs (2000 metres), round course 4:45PM BALMORAL HANDICAP (SPONSORED BY QIPCO) 3-y-o and up, 1 mile (1600 metres), straight course Entries close Tuesday 24 September The Ascot Racecourse Executive, in consultation with British Champions Series Ltd and the BHA, reserves the right to transfer any race scheduled to take place on the Round Course to the Inner Flat Course in the event of the Outer Flat Course being untraceable, or in serious danger of such, on the day before or on the morning of racing. The Inner Flat Course contingency is therefore a plan against potential abandonment and the intention is to use the Outer Flat Course where possible. * all timings subject to change PAGE 03 QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS DAY MEDIA GUIDE 1:30PM QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS LONG DISTANCE CUP (GROUP 2) Total prize money £450,000 • Prize money breakdown: 1st: £255,195 - 2nd: £96,750 - 3rd: £48,420 - 4th: £24,120 - 5th: £12,105 - 6th: £6,075 Race Details • Distance: 2m (3200m) Conditions: Round Course | 3yo+ | No Penalties | Maximum Field 20 • Next deadline: Second entries stage on Tuesday 1st October • Supplementary entries: £35,000 close by noon on Monday 14th October • Declare: 10am Thursday 17th October LAST YEAR’S WINNER: STRADIVARIUS The imperious Stradivarius capped his flawless campaign with a length-and-a-half victory over Irish raider Thomas Hobson. In the process the brilliant winner became the first Gold Cup victor since Pardallo, in 1968, to go through the whole season unbeaten. He also won the Matchbook Yorkshire Cup, Qatar Goodwood Cup and Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup. In a tactical renewal, Dettori made a race- winning move to grab the rail turning into the home straight. He edged both ways in front, costing his jockey a short ban, but nobody could argue that the staying champion was the best horse on the day. POSSIBLE CONTENDERS THIS YEAR INCLUDE STRADIVARIUS Trainer: John Gosden QIPCO British Champions Series wins: 9 The legendary Frankel chalked up a record nine QIPCO British Champions Series triumphs during his flawless career and the dominant Stradivarius drew level following his third Qatar Goodwood Cup on 30th July, with a thrilling victory over Dee Ex Bee on the Downs. His fan club is bulging but he was initially regarded as something of a party pooper when denying Big Orange a record third successive Qatar Goodwood Cup win in 2016. The villain has since become the hero with a string of peerless displays in the top staying races. The five-year-old retained his Gold Cup crown in June, having also won a second Matchbook Yorkshire Cup before that. His CV is also decorated by a Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup and last year’s QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup. DEE EX BEE Trainer: Mark Johnston QIPCO British Champions Series wins: 0 “Second sucks” said Mark Johnston after Dee Ex Bee had split Masar and Roaring Lion to finish runner-up in the Investec Derby last year. No doubt he was saying the same after the four-year-old had beaten all bar Stradivarius in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in June and the Qatar Goodwood Cup in July. It was still a cracking effort, and one that confirmed he is among the best stayers in training. He had previously landed the Longines Sagaro Stakes, at Ascot, and Matchbook VIP Henry II Stakes, at Sandown. Remarkably, Johnston has yet to saddle a QIPCO British Champions Series winner since the Series was introduced in 2011. Dee Ex Bee will surely provide a breakthrough for the winningmost British trainer before too long. KEW GARDENS Trainer: Aidan O’Brien QIPCO British Champions Series wins: 1 Last year’s fluent William Hill St Leger winner was an intended runner in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in June but had to be scratched after suffering a muscle injury. Aidan O’Brien indicated it was a minor setback and suggested he would not be on the sidelines for too long. He will be a fascinating contender when upped in distance as he’s shown he has reserves of stamina and yet also displayed high-class form over a mile and a half. Kew Gardens won the Group 1 Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris last summer and on his latest start was runner-up to Defoe in the Investec Coronation Cup. On his only previous start at Ascot he was an impressive winner of last year’s Queen’s Vase. PAGE 04 QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS DAY MEDIA GUIDE ENTRIES FOR THE QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS LONG DISTANCE CUP (GROUP 2) TUESDAY 6TH AUGUST 2019 HORSE AGE TRAINER OWNER Barbados (IRE) 3 Aidan O'Brien Mr M. Tabor, Mr D. Smith, Mrs John Magnier Ben Vrackie (GB) 4 John Gosden H. R. H. Princess Haya of Jordan Best Solution (IRE) 5 Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Bin Battuta (GB) 5 Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Broome (IRE) 3 Aidan O'Brien Mr M. Tabor, Mr D. Smith, Mrs John Magnier Capri (IRE) 5 Aidan O'Brien Mr D.Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Mr M. Tabor Cleonte (IRE) 6 Andrew Balding King Power Racing Co Ltd Constantinople (IRE) 3 Aidan O'Brien Mr D.Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Mr M. Tabor Cross Counter (GB) 4 Charlie Appleby Godolphin Cypress Creek (IRE) 4 Aidan O'Brien Mr M. Tabor, Mr D. Smith, Mrs John Magnier Dashing Willoughby (GB) 3 Andrew Balding Mick and Janice Mariscotti Dee Ex Bee (GB) 4 Mark Johnston Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum Delphinia (IRE) 3 Aidan O'Brien Mrs John Magnier & Mr M. Tabor & Mr D. Smith Dramatic Queen (USA) 4 William Haggas Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum Eminence (IRE) 3 Aidan O'Brien Mr D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier, Mr M. Tabor Eminent Authority (IRE) 3 Joseph Patrick O'Brien Sun Bloodstock SARL Falcon Eight (IRE) 4 D. K. Weld Moyglare Stud Farms Ltd Hunting Horn (IRE) 4 Aidan O'Brien Mrs John Magnier & Mr M. Tabor & Mr D. Smith Il Paradiso (USA) 3 Aidan O'Brien Mr M. Tabor, Mr D. Smith, Mrs John Magnier Ispolini (GB) 4 Charlie Appleby Godolphin Kew Gardens (IRE) 4 Aidan O'Brien Mr D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier, Mr M. Tabor King's Advice (GB) 5 Mark Johnston Mr Saeed Jaber Master of Reality (IRE) 4 Joseph Patrick O'Brien Lloyd J Williams Syndicate Max Dynamite (FR) 9 W. P. Mullins Mrs S. Ricci Mekong (GB) 4 Sir Michael Stoute Mr Philip Newton Mount Everest (IRE) 3 Aidan O'Brien Flaxman Stables/Mrs Magnier/Tabor/Smith Nayef Road (IRE) 3 Mark Johnston Mr Mohamed Obaida Norway (IRE) 3 Aidan O'Brien Mr D.Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Mr M. Tabor Outbox (GB) 4 Simon Crisford Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum Peach Tree (IRE) 3 Aidan O'Brien Mr M. Tabor, Mr D. Smith, Mrs John Magnier Pilaster (GB) 4 Roger Varian Cheveley Park Stud Raheen House (IRE) 5 William Haggas Mr J. L. Day Red Galileo (GB) 8 Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Red Verdon (USA) 6 Ed Dunlop The Hon R J Arculli Royal Line (GB) 5 John Gosden HH Sheikha Al Jalila Racing Salouen (IRE) 5 Sylvester Kirk Mr H. Balasuriya Southern France (IRE) 4 Aidan O'Brien Mr D.Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Mr M. Tabor South Pacific (GB) 3 Aidan O'Brien Mr D.Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Mr M. Tabor South Sea Pearl (IRE) 3 Aidan O'Brien Mr D.Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Mr M. Tabor Sovereign (IRE) 3 Aidan O'Brien Mrs John Magnier & Mr M. Tabor & Mr D. Smith Stradivarius (IRE) 5 John Gosden Mr B. E. Nielsen Stratum (GB) 6 W. P. Mullins Anthony Bloom Technician (IRE) 3 Martyn Meade Team Valor 1 Thomas Hobson (GB) 9 W. P. Mullins Mrs S. Ricci Twilight Payment (IRE) 6 J. S. Bolger Mrs J. S. Bolger Wells Farhh Go (IRE) 4 Tim Easterby Mr S A Heley & Partner Western Australia (IRE) 3 Aidan O'Brien Mr D.Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Mr M. Tabor Withhold (GB) 6 Roger Charlton Anthony Bloom PAGE 05 QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS DAY MEDIA GUIDE PAST WINNERS OF THE QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS LONG DISTANCE CUP (GROUP 2) YEAR RATING HORSE JOCKEY TRAINER 2011 120 Fame And Glory Jamie Spencer Aidan O’Brien 2012 113 Rite of Passage Pat Smullen Dermot Weld 2013 114 Royal Diamond Johnny Murtagh Johnny Murtagh 2014 111 Forgotten Rules Pat Smullen Dermot Weld 2015 115 Flying Officer Frankie Dettori John Gosden 2016 115 Sheikhzayedroad Martin Harley David Simcock 2017 123 Order of St George Ryan Moore Aidan O’Brien 2018 120 Stradivarius Frankie Dettori John Gosden RESULTS IN THE 2019 QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS SERIES LONG DISTANCE DIVISION: THE MATCHBOOK YORKSHIRE CUP | 1M 5F 188Y | GOOD TO FIRM | £165,000 | GROUP 2 | 17TH MAY | YORK 1 Stradivarius (IRE) Frankie Dettori John Gosden Mr B.