Ombudsman And Delacroix Go Head-To-Head In QIPCO Champion Stakes
Automatic Berth on the line to Longines Breeders Cup Turf Nov 1. at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club
Breeders’ Cup Release
ASCOT, BERKSHIRE, England – Ombudsman (IRE) takes on Delacroix (IRE) in Saturday’s exciting renewal of the QIPCO Champion Stakes (G1) at Ascot Racecourse. The winner of the feature race on QIPCO British Champions Day is guaranteed an automatic starting position in the $5 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In.
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series 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, scheduled to be held Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, California.
Godolphin’s Ombudsman, a 4-year-old son of Night Of Thunder (IRE), leads the Longines World’s Best Racehorse rankings after his superb victory in the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1), his second win in a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series race after taking the Prince of Wales’s Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot.
Reflecting on his most recent start, trainer John Gosden commented: “Once again, Ombudsman displayed a phenomenal turn of foot in the last furlong to win by 3 1/2 lengths. He will now be freshened up for an autumn campaign targeting the Champion Stakes at Ascot, the Breeders’ Cup, and the Japan Cup.”
Ombudsman has only been beaten twice in his career, with the latest loss coming to rival Delacroix in the Coral Eclipse Stakes (G1) at Sandown in July. Delacroix, a 3-year-old son of Dubawi (IRE) trained by Aidan O’Brien for Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, and Michael Tabor, went on to win the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes (G1) in September and secured his place in the $5 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1). Both horses are among 11 declared runners and are looking to stamp their authority with a third Group 1 victory. However, Godolphin is taking no chances and have supplemented stablemate Devil’s Advocate (GB) for £75,000 as an intended pacemaker.
This year’s star-studded lineup includes the Aga Khan Stud’s French raider Calandagan (IRE), who was a decisive winner of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) – a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series race – back in July. Connections are confident going into Saturday’s contest.
Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard commented: “I think it’s fantastic for racing to see all of them competing. At 1 1/2 miles, he’s fantastic but the horse is very fresh, he seems to be very well in himself so I’m really looking forward to challenging the other two.”
Meanwhile, Economics (GB) will be making his first start since finishing sixth in this race a year ago before a tilt at the Bahrain International Trophy (G3), which is sponsored by his owner HH Sheikh Isa Salman Al Khalifa.
Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum’s Almaqam (GB), a 4-year-old colt trained by Ed Walker and ridden by Kieran Shoemark, comes here with an impressive record including multiple top-three finishes in Group company and having beaten Ombudsman at the start of the season.
Joining him is Almeric (GB), who is trained by Andrew Balding and will be ridden by Oisin Murphy. The promising 3-year-old colt has shown strong form with two consecutive wins this season, positioning himself as a strong contender.
First Look (IRE), the Andre Fabre-trained 4-year-old who won the Qatar Prix Dollar (G2) at the Arc meeting earlier this month, Fox Legacy (GB), Prague (IRE) and Mount Kilimanjaro (FR) complete the field.
As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for the winner of the QIPCO Champion Stakes to start in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1). Breeders’ Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 20 in order to receive the rewards.
