Ascot

ASCOT, UK--It's that time of year, with retirements of the top horses coming thick and fast, but the really good news from Champions Day is that Big Rock (Ire) and King Of Steel will both be back to wow us again next year.  And wow they did, along with that other predictable star of the show, Frankie Dettori. It is a course that he has been lighting up ever since his magnificent seven of 1996 and at which he is now commemorated in bronze, the statue of Dettori having been...

Ascot is really where it all began for Frankie Dettori and after Saturday's opening salvo of QIPCO Champions Day it looked to have already given that farewell gift, but there was one final blessing to be bestowed on its favourite son as Amo Racing's King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Eldacar {GB}, by Verglas {Ire}) prevailed in the G1 QIPCO Champion S., a "Win and You're In" for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf. As deep into the feature 10-furlong contest as the final 100 yards, the glorious sign-off looked unlikely to...

Leaving his G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. rivals strung out down Ascot's straight mile, Yeguada Centurion's Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}--Hardiyna {Ire}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}) produced a masterclass from the front under Aurelien Lemaitre in one of the great displays throughout the history of this prestigious affair. Quickly out on his own, the Christopher Head-trained 3-year-old who had not won since looking a force in the mud in the G3 Prix la Force and G3 Prix de Guiche this spring was always way beyond the reaches...

Shadwell's Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) has been withdrawn from this afternoon's G1 Qipco Champion S. due to the ground. Angus Gold explained the decision to pull the G1 G1 Juddmonte International and G1 Prince of Wales's S. hero from the feature, for which he was favourite on Friday. "I asked two jockeys coming back in and one said it was horrible ground and the other that it was heavy, so we decided we didn't want to end his career on a bad note. He'll be prepared for the Breeders' Cup...

There was one attendee at Ascot on Saturday that refused to succumb to Frankie fever and that was King Power's grey enigma Art Power (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}--Evening Time {Ire}, by Keltos {Fr}) who on his 15th attempt in Group 1 company finally made the breakthrough in the QIPCO British Champions Sprint. Blazing the trail in isolation in his habitual style, the star of the Tim Easterby yard looked set to play second fiddle as Dettori edged ahead late on the 5-4 favourite Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) but where he...

As if conjuring the renowned Babet as a personal Tempest for his [probable] European goodbye, racing's true Duke of Milan rides back into his beloved Ascot on Saturday as the eye of the storm for a suitably dramatic instalment of the Qipco Champions Day. While this fixture has fast become a resounding success, despite its mid-October nook being that bit too far into the wet season to deliver a fair playing field, it always needs at least one dynamo per year to power it into the headlines. Officials are lucky...

Storm Babet has decided the final shape of the fields for Saturday's Qipco Champions Day fixture, with the softening ground ruling Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) out of the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. and making up Aidan O'Brien's mind as to where to point Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}). That four-times group 1 winner takes up his engagement in the QEII, leaving a total of nine to take part in the G1 Qipco Champion S. Heading the list for the 10-furlong highlight is last year's winner Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay...

Multiple Group 1 winner Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) will run in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. at Ascot on QIPCO British Champions Day, owner Blue Diamond Stud announced via X (Twitter) on Wednesday evening. "Confirmed: Nashwa will run in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Saturday," Imad Al Sagar's operation tweeted. Al Sagar's homebred won both the G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Nassau S. as a 3-year-old for John and Thady Gosden. She added her third Group 1 in the Falmouth S. this July, and has...

RaceTech and Ascot Racecourse (ARL) renewed a long-term partnership covering an extensive range of services at the Berkshire course. Beginning immediately, the new agreement will see RaceTech continue to provide full outside broadcast facilities, integrity coverage, in-house programming and other essential racecourse services such as photo finish, race timing and the starting stalls operation. John Bozza, RaceTech CEO, said: "We look forward to supporting this next contract cycle and building on our reputation as the technical service provider of choice for UK racing with innovation very much at the forefront."...

Listed winner Purosangue (GB) (Aclaim {Ire}) (lot 5) is a new addition to the upcoming Goffs QIPCO Champions Day Sale at Ascot on Saturday, Oct. 21. The wildcard landed last weekend's Listed Rockingham S. at York. He was previously thrice runner-up in the Listed Rosebery S., the Listed Roses S., and the G3 Molecomb S. Consigned by Andrew Balding's Park House Stables, the 2-year-old is from the family of stakes winners Saigon (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}) and Tabaret (GB) (Bertolini). The sale will begin at 11:10 a.m. on Saturday prior...

Group 3 winner Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) will likely start next in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. on British Champions S. Day at Ascot if the anticipated wet weather holds, Team Valor's Barry Irwin said Sunday. The 4-year-old gelding was most recently third behind Sauterne (Fr) (Kingman {GB}) in the G1 Prix Du Moulin de Longchamp on Sept. 3. "It's the plan and he could run on any type of surface, but he's better with some give in the ground and the wetter the better, like when he...

The Rogues Gallery's Rogue Lightning (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) will be offered at the Goffs QIPCO British Champions Day Sale prior to racing at Ascot on Saturday, Oct. 21. Bred by Airlie Stud, the crack sprinter won the Listed Scarbrough S. over the minimum trip at Doncaster last month, prior to being a fast-finishing fifth in the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye at ParisLongchamp on Oct. 1. The 3-year-old gelding is rated 119 by Timeform. The full catalogue for the boutique horses-in-training sale will be available on Monday and entries are still...