THE ULTIMATE RACEDAY SATURDAY 19 OCTOBER 2019 ASCOT RACECOURSE MEDIA GUIDE QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS DAY MEDIA GUIDE QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS DAY MEDIA GUIDE FOREWORD CONTENTS ROD STREET QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS DAY 06 The QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes WELCOME TO THE ULTIMATE RACEDAY 11 The QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup Welcome to QIPCO British Champions Day, the spectacular finale to the British Flat racing season. In 16 The QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes racing terms the day is still in its infancy having been first run in 2011 and yet, in that time it has become firmly established as one of the world's greatest racedays thanks to the tremendous support of our 21 The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO) sponsors QIPCO, who have been with us from the start. It is thanks to their generosity that today boasts a card which is unrivalled in the British racing calendar, with an unprecedented four Group 1 contests and a 27 The QIPCO Champion Stakes total prize fund in excess of £4 million, making it by far and away the most valuable in the UK. 33 The Balmoral Handicap (sponsored by QIPCO) QIPCO British Champions Series shines a light on the finest racing and there have been some brilliant performances throughout the season. Stradivarius, a real crowd favourite, who is again unbeaten this season, picked up his second million pound bonus in winning the Gold Cup, Qatar Goodwood Cup and Weatherby’s Hamilton Lonsdale Cup. Enable 36 The Flat Jockeys’ Championships confirmed her place among the greats with victories in the Coral-Eclipse, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes and the Darley Yorkshire Oaks. Japanese star Deirdre ran out a winner of the Qatar Nassau Stakes at 40 Records of winning jockeys on QIPCO British Champions Day Goodwood and Frankel, who lit up the first two runnings of Champions Day, claimed two British Classics as a sire when Anapurna won the Investec Oaks and Logician The William Hill St Leger. We also said farewell to the retiring Blue 42 Records of winning trainers on QIPCO British Champions Day Point, but not before his back-to-back sprint wins during Royal Ascot. We look forward to five incredibly competitive Group races and welcoming a host of this season’s top competitors today. 48 QIPCO British Champions Series Ambassadors As well as thrilling action on track, Champions Day is also the occasion on which we crown the champions of the Flat and we are delighted to see Oisin Murphy, who is retained by Qatar Racing, be crowned Champion Jockey at just 49 Movember – QIPCO British Champions Series Charity Partner 24 years of age. Oisin is a prodigious riding talent and it is wonderful to see him follow up last year’s tremendous season, when he won nine international Group 1s, with a runaway success in this year’s Championship. In the 51 Background to QIPCO British Champions Series and Apprentice Championship, Cieren Fallon Jnr and Sean Davis have been neck and neck throughout much of the season and, regardless of the final tallies, both look set to have very bright futures. QIPCO British Champions Day Excitingly, the race to be crowned Champion Owner will go down to the wire with Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, 52 About QIPCO Holding who has seen his wonderful colt, Battaash, blitz a trail this summer. However, it is conceivable that the Coolmore syndicate, in whose colours Magical runs, Prince Khalid Abdullah and the royal blue of Godolphin could overhaul him 54 Tickets and travel details to Ascot by the end of the afternoon. Beyond the racing action there are some brilliant other attractions on course today. We are delighted to welcome our charity partner, Movember, to Champions Day to raise awareness of their amazing work. There will be autograph signings with our ambassadors Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Adam Gemili, fresh from their medal success at the World Athletics Championships in Doha. The fan zone is once again on course where you can test out your jockey skills and meet a racehorse and, of course, there is a fantastic after-party headlined by Basement Jaxx. Finally, thank you and good luck to all today’s owners, trainers and jockeys who have supported the day and to all of you who have joined us at Ascot - have a fabulous day’s racing Rod Street Chief Executive, British Champions Series PAGE 02 PAGE 03 QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS DAY MEDIA GUIDE QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS DAY MEDIA GUIDE COURSE MAP THE ULTIMATE RACEDAY Since 2016, a contingency plan has been in place to use the inner flat course in the event of the regular outer course becoming unraceable. On the morning of Wednesday 16th, Ascot, the BHA and BCS activated that contingency due to RACE DAY PROGRAMME waterlogging on the outer course and the continued forecast rain every day leading into race day. 10.30AM GATES OPEN* The decision was a straightforward one, hence taken earlier than in race conditions (which anticipated a Friday or Saturday decision). All parties agreed that in the interests of horsemen having complete 1.35PM QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS SPRINT STAKES (GROUP 1) clarity before declarations on Thursday 17th, a decision could be brought forward. 3-y-o and up, 6 furlongs (1200 metres), straight course. 2.10PM QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS LONG DISTANCE CUP (GROUP 2) NO PENALTIES, 3-y-o and up, 1 mile and 7 furlongs 127yds, inner flat course. 2.45PM QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS FILLIES & MARES STAKES (GROUP 1) 3-y-o and up, 1 mile and 3 furlongs 133yds, inner flat course. 3.20PM QUEEN ELIZABETH II STAKES (SPONSORED BY QIPCO) (GROUP 1) 3-y-o and up, 1 mile (1600) metres, straight course. 4.00PM QIPCO CHAMPION STAKES (GROUP 1) 3-y-o and up, 1 mile and 2 furlongs (2000 metres), inner flat course. 4.40PM BALMORAL HANDICAP (SPONSORED BY QIPCO) 3-y-o and up, 1 mile (1600 metres), straight course. *all timings subject to change INNER FLAT COURSE ITINERARY STRAIGHT COURSE 11.30am 1.00pm Race A Champion Grand Final Crowning of Champion Jockey and Bandstand Lawn Champion Apprentice Parade Ring 12.15pm QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS QUEEN ELIZABETH II STAKES Champion Jockey and Champion 4.05pm SPRINT STAKES (GROUP 1) (SPONSORED BY QIPCO) (GROUP 1) Apprentice autograph signing Draw to win a VW Polo DISTANCE: 6 FURLONGS DISTANCE: 1 MILE Centre of Grandstand Parade Ring QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS QIPCO CHAMPION STAKES (GROUP 1) 12.30pm 4.55pm LONG DISTANCE CUP (GROUP 2) DISTANCE: 1 MILE ABOUT 2 FURLONGS (INNER FLAT COURSE) Punters’ Panel After Party headlined by DISTANCE: ABOUT 2 MILES (INNER FLAT COURSE) Parade Ring Basement Jaxx (DJ Set) BALMORAL HANDICAP Grandstand Lawn QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS (SPONSORED BY QIPCO) 12.50pm FILLIES & MARES STAKES (GROUP 1) DISTANCE: 1 MILE Opening Ceremony DISTANCE: 1 MILE ABOUT 4 FURLONGS Parade Ring (INNER FLAT COURSE) PAGE 04 PAGE 05 QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS DAY MEDIA GUIDE QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS DAY MEDIA GUIDE 1:35PM QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS SPRINT STAKES (GROUP 1) ENTRIES FOR THE QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS TOTAL PRIZE MONEY £583,130 SPRINT STAKES (GROUP 1) • Prize money breakdown: 1st: £330,693 - 2nd: £125,372 FIVE-DAY ENTRIES ON MONDAY 14TH OCTOBER 3rd: £62,744 - 4th: £31,255 - 5th: £15,686 - 6th: £7,872 STRAIGHT COURSE RACE DETAILS HORSE AGE TRAINER OWNER • Distance: 6f Conditions: Straight Course | 3yo+ | Maximum Field 20 • Declare: 10am Thursday 17th October Brando (GB) 7 Kevin Ryan Mrs Angie Bailey Cape Byron (GB) 5 Roger Varian Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum LAST YEAR’S WINNER: SANDS OF MALI A surprise result but no fluke with Sands Of Mali making all and keeping on Donjuan Triumphant (IRE) 6 Andrew Balding King Power Racing Co Ltd tenaciously to keep the top-class Harry Angel at bay. Richard Fahey’s three-year- old colt had found only Eqtidaar too strong in the Commonwealth Cup earlier in the season and was confirming his relish for Ascot. Harry Angel, running in his final Dream of Dreams (IRE) 5 Sir Michael Stoute Mr Saeed Suhail race, had every chance but he could not claw back his younger rival and went down by a length. Donjuan Triumphant kept on to be an honourable third. Keystroke (GB) 7 Stuart Williams GG Thoroughbreds XI POSSIBLE CONTENDERS THIS YEAR INCLUDE Librisa Breeze (GB) 7 Dean Ivory Anthony Bloom HELLO YOUMZAIN Trainer: Kevin Ryan QIPCO British Champions Series wins: 1 Make A Challenge (IRE) 4 D. G. Hogan M G Hogan/W O'Connor/J J O'Reilly Kevin Ryan has made no secret of how highly he regards Hello Youmzain and the Kodiac colt has yet to finish out of the frame when running over six furlongs. He ran a Sands of Mali (FR) 4 Richard Fahey Phoenix Thoroughbred & Cool Silk P'ship blinder to be third to Advertise in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, considering he fluffed the start, and built on that when making virtually all the running in the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock on his latest start. Having had only seven races, the Speak In Colours (GB) 4 Joseph Patrick O'Brien Mrs C. C. Regalado-Gonzalez best is almost certainly still to come. The Tin Man (GB) 7 James Fanshawe Fred Archer Racing - Ormonde THE TIN MAN Trainer: James Fanshawe QIPCO British Champions Series wins: 3 Advertise (GB) 3 Martyn Meade Phoenix Thoroughbred Limited 1 QIPCO British Champions Day regulars will need no introduction to The Tin Man. He was fourth in this race in 2015, won it in 2016, was fifth in 2017 and seventh 12 months ago.