Calandagan and Field Of Gold Among World-Class Champions Day Entries

[Wandering Eyes]

Calandagan (Gleneagles), Delacroix (Dubawi), Field Of Gold (Kingman) and Ombudsman (Night Of Thunder) headline the entries for QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot, which takes place this year on Saturday, October 18.

The seven-race card boasts record prize-money of £4.35 million in 2025, with the £1.3-million G1 QIPCO Champion Stakes taking top billing as the most valuable contest staged on the afternoon. Last year's renewal was won by Anmaat (Awtaad), who could face a rematch with the runner-up, Calandagan, after that rival returned to Ascot recently to win the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

The 2024 King George hero Goliath (Adlerflug) and the unbeaten Daryz (Sea The Stars) complete a three-strong entry for Calandagan's trainer, Francis Henri-Graffard, while the aforementioned Delacroix and Ombudsman also feature among the 38 entries, after that duo finished first and second, respectively, in last month's G1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.

The G1 Irish 2,000 Guineas and G1 St James's Palace Stakes winner Field Of Gold is among 38 entries for the £1.1-million G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO). His potential rivals include the Ascot specialist and G1 Queen Anne Stakes winner Docklands (Massaat), G1 Lockinge Stakes scorer Lead Artist (Dubawi), G1 Sussex Stakes hero Qirat (Showcasing) and Sunday's G1 Prix Rothschild victrix Fallen Angel (Too Darn Hot). Meanwhile, French challenger Facteur Cheval (Ribchester), who finished second in both 2023 and 2024, is entered again for Jerome Reynier.

Run at Group 1 level for the first time, the QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup has increased prize-money of £500,000 this year and has attracted 29 entries, including G1 Gold Cup hero Trawlerman, who won this race in 2023 for John and Thady Gosden. The son of Golden Horn also filled the runner-up spot last year behind Kyprios, who was providing trainer Aidan O'Brien with a fourth success in the Long Distance Cup. The potential Ballydoyle challenge in 2025 is headed by the G1 Goodwood Cup one-two, Scandinavia (Justify) and Illinois (Galileo), as well as the G1 St Leger and G1 Coronation Cup winner Jan Brueghel (Galileo).

French star Lazzat (Territories) headlines 53 entries for the G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes, having defeated the Japanese raider Satono Reve in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes over the same course and distance on his most recent start. G1 Prix Jean Prat winner Woodshauna (Wooded) is one of four other contenders from France, while G1 King Charles III Stakes hero American Affair (Washington DC) and G1 Commonwealth Cup scorer Time For Sandals (Sands Of Mali) could also return to the scene of their victories at Royal Ascot.

Elsewhere, Andrew Balding's defending champion Kalpana (Study Of Man) is one of 41 entries for the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes, although the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is reported to be her primary target this autumn. O'Brien, who won the race with Hydrangea in 2017 and Magical the following year, has entered the dual Oaks heroine Minnie Hauk (Frankel), as well as the recent G1 Nassau Stakes winner Whirl (Wootton Bassett).

For the first time this year, the British Champions Day Two-Year Old Stakes will open the card, a six-furlong conditions race for juveniles run without penalties and worth £250,000. Entries for that race will be made at the usual six-day stage, while the card is concluded by the Balmoral Handicap (Sponsored by QIPCO), with entries for that £200,000 contest to be made on Tuesday, September 16.

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