Henri Matisse (IRE) scoring the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
June 17-19 – Royal Ascot
Breeders’ Cup Release
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In is an international series of 93 stakes races in 15 countries whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. The full schedule may be viewed at BreedersCup.com/races/challenge-series.
The 2025 Royal Ascot meeting begins the European leg of the 2025 Challenge Series, which includes 14 races in England, five in Ireland, and six in France. A total of 49 Challenge Series race will be held outside of the United States.
The £750,000 Queen Anne Stakes (G1) and the £650,000 King Charles III Stakes (G1), both on Tuesday, June 17, the £1million Prince of Wales’s Stakes (G1) on Wednesday, June 18, and the £150,000 Norfolk Stakes (G2) on Thursday, June 19 comprise the four Challenge Series races to held at the 2025 Royal Meeting.
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, inaugurated in 2007, made its Royal Meeting debut in 2018.
In 2024, five Breeders’ Cup World Championships winners earned automatic berths via the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series: Henri Matisse (IRE) (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf), Lake Victoria (IRE) (John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf), Citizen Bull (FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile), Immersive (NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies), Soul of an Angel (PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint), and Moira (ON) (Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf).
The next three editions of the Breeders’ Cup will be held at the following host tracks: Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, California (2025), Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky. (2026), and Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. (2027).
£750,000 Queen Anne Stakes (G1), 1 Mile (Turf), 4YO & Up
Winner Receives: Automatic starting position in the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1), $60,000 entry fee waived, $10,000 awarded to Breeders’ Cup nominator. All Championship starters based outside of California receive a travel allowance.
Recent Winner Highlights: Charyn (IRE) (2024) did not contest the World Championships but won a second Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series race, capturing the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-Le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois (G1) at Deauville. Circus Maximus (IRE) (2020) finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland after finishing fourth in the Mile in 2019. Tepin (2016) finished second in her title defense of the Breeders’ Cup Mile after winning the 2015 edition before her Royal Ascot adventure.
2025 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile Division – Challenge Series Races
| Race Date | Track | Race Name | Distance | Age |
| 1/4/2025 | KEN | L’Ormarins King’s Plate (G1) | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP |
| 4/5/2025 | MEY | Dubai Turf sponsored by DP World (G1) | 1 1/8 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP |
| 5/25/2025 | CHS | Gran Premio Club Hípico Falabella (G1) | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP |
| 6/8/2025 | TOK | Yasuda Kinen (G1) | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP |
| 6/17/2025 | ASC | The Queen Anne Stakes (G1) | 1 Mile (T) | 4 YO & UP |
| 7/30/2025 | GOO | Qatar Sussex Stakes (G1) | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP |
| 8/2/2025 | Sar | The FanDuel Fourstardave (G1) | 1 Mile (T) | 4 YO & UP |
| 9/13/2025 | WO | Rogers Woodbine Mile (G1) | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP |
| 9/27/2025 | SA | City of Hope Mile (G2) | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP |
| 10/4/2025 | Kee | Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP |
| 10/5/2025 | Lch | Qatar Prix de la Foret (G1) | 7 Furlongs (T) | 3 YO & UP |
£650,000 King Charles III Stakes (G1), 3yo & Up, 5 furlongs (Turf)
Winner Receives: Automatic starting position in $1 million Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1), $30,000 entry fee waived, $10,000 awarded to Breeders’ Cup nominator. All Championship starters based outside of California receive a travel allowance.
Recent Winner Highlights: Asfoora (AUS) (2024) did not contest the 2024 World Championships; Bradsell (GB) (2023) did not contest the 2023 World Championships, but finished 11th in the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint; Lady Aurelia (2017) finished 10th in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar.
2025 Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint Division – Challenge Series Races
| Race Date | Track | Race Name | Distance | Age |
| 6/7/2025 | Sar | The Jaipur (G1) | 5 1/2 Furlongs (T) | 3 YO & UP |
| 6/17/2025 | ASC | The King Charles III Stakes (G1) | 5 Furlongs (T) | 3 YO & UP |
| 8/22/2025 | YOR | Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) | 5 Furlongs (T) | 2 YO & UP |
| 8/30/2025 | Dmr | Green Flash Handicap (G3) | 5 Furlongs (T) | 3 YO & UP |
| 8/30/2025 | KD | The Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint (G2) | 6 Furlongs (T) | 3 YO & UP |
| 9/14/2025 | CUR | Bar One Flying Five Stakes (G1) | 5 Furlongs (T) | 3 YO & UP |
| 10/5/2025 | Lch | Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp Longines (G1) | 5 Furlongs (T) | 2 YO & UP |
£1million Prince of Wales’s Stakes (G1), 4yo & Up, 1 1/4 miles (Turf)
Winner Receives: Automatic starting position in $5 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), $150,000 entry fee waived, $10,000 awarded to Breeders’ Cup nominator. All Championship starters based outside of California receive a travel allowance.
Recent Winner Highlights: August Rodin (2024) did not contest the 2024 World Championships; Mostahdaf (IRE) (2023) finished eighth in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita Park; Lord North (IRE) finished fourth in the 2020 Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf; Highland Reel (IRE) (2017) finished third in the 2017 Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar after winning the 2016 Turf at Santa Anita Park.
2025 Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf Division – Challenge Series Races
| Race Date | Track | Race Name | Distance | Age |
| 12/14/2024 | SIS | Gran Premio International | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP |
| Carlos Pellegrini Stakes (G1) | ||||
| 4/5/2025 | MEY | Longines Dubai Sheema Classic | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP |
| Presented by Longines (G1) | ||||
| 6/15/2025 | KYO | Takarazuka Kinen (G1) | 1 3/8 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP |
| 6/18/2025 | ASC | The Prince of Wales’s Stakes (G1) | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 4 YO & UP |
| 6/22/2025 | GVA | Grande Premio Brasil (G1) | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP |
| 7/26/2025 | ASC | King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP |
| 8/9/2025 | Sar | The Sword Dancer (G1) | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 4 YO & UP |
| 8/30/2025 | Dmr | Del Mar Handicap Presented By | 1 3/8 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP |
| The Japan Racing Association (G2) | ||||
| 9/6/2025 | KD | The Kentucky Turf Cup (G2) | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP |
| 9/13/2025 | LEO | The Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes (G1) | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP |
| 10/5/2025 | Lch | Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP |
| 10/18/2025 | ASC | QIPCO Champion Stakes (G1) | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP |
£150,000 Norfolk Stakes (G2), 2YO, 5 furlongs
Winner Receives: Automatic starting position in $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1), $30,000 entry fee waived, $10,000 awarded to Breeders’ Cup nominator. All Championship starters based outside of California receive a travel allowance.
Recent Winner Highlights: Shareholder (2024) finished 12th in the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar. Valiant Force (2023) finished second in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. The Lir Jet (IRE) (2020) finished seventh in the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) and finished 11th in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1). A’Ali (IRE) (2019) finished 10th in the second 2019 Breeders’ Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2).
2025 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Division – Challenge Series Races
| Race Date | Track | Race Name | Distance | Age |
| 6/19/2025 | ASC | The Norfolk Stakes (G2) | 5 Furlongs (T) | 2 YO |
| 7/30/2025 | GOO | Jaeger-Lecoultre Molecomb Stakes (G3) | 5 Furlongs (T) | 2 YO |
| TBD | Aqu | The Futurity (G3) | 6 Furlongs (T) | 2 YO C&G |
