There’s something in the autumn air at Ascot that promises magic. The grandstand will tremble this Saturday, October 18, as some of the world’s best horses clash on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot, the glittering finale to the Flat racing season. The £1.3 million QIPCO Champion Stakes headlines the meeting — and with it comes the renewal of one of modern racing’s great rivalries: Ombudsman versus Delacroix.
For months, fans have debated who truly deserves the title of world’s best. Godolphin’s Ombudsman, officially the top-rated horse on the planet, and Coolmore’s Delacroix, the brilliant three-year-old trained by Aidan O’Brien, are level in their personal scoreline — one victory apiece. Their third duel will settle the argument in front of a roaring Ascot crowd.
Calandagan, who lifted the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes earlier this year, adds even more star power to what could be a race for the ages. Economics makes his seasonal return after running sixth in this contest last year, while supplementary entries Devil’s Advocate (Godolphin) and First Look (André Fabre) bolster the 15-strong lineup.
Field Of Gold Returns in Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
The £1.1 million Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO) brings another compelling story. Field Of Gold, the world’s joint-second highest-rated horse, makes his long-awaited reappearance after a short injury layoff. The Juddmonte colt, trained by John & Thady Gosden, electrified fans earlier this year with dominant Group 1 wins in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes before finishing fourth in the Sussex Stakes.
He faces a talented field of 17 that includes Fallen Angel, unbeaten in three straight Group 1 starts, and Rosallion, who has agonisingly finished second by the narrowest margins in three major contests this season. Docklands, a true Ascot specialist, and Marvelman, recently supplemented after his Park Stakes triumph, add further intrigue.
Sprinters and Stayers Set for Battle
The £500,000 QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes will bring raw speed to the straight course. Defending champion Kind Of Blue returns in a field of 21, aiming to give trainer James Fanshawe a record-equalling fourth victory in the race. He’ll face Lazzat and Flora Of Bermuda for Wathnan Racing, while Big Mojo, No Half Measures, and evergreen Art Power — winner here in 2023 — promise fireworks.
Over the longer distances, Trawlerman heads the £500,000 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup, newly promoted to Group 1 status. The seven-year-old’s record-breaking Gold Cup win this summer confirmed his staying prowess. His stablemate Sweet William, along with Al Qareem and Stay True, ensure the division’s depth remains formidable.
Champions Fillies, Juvenile Stars, and the Balmoral Finale
The £500,000 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes could witness a repeat hero. Kalpana, last year’s winner, bids to defend her crown after a fine run in the Arc. Among her rivals are Estrange, Waardah, and France’s Latakia and Quisisana, both Group 1 winners this summer.
A new chapter begins earlier in the day with the inaugural ÂŁ250,000 QIPCO British Champions Day Two-Year-Old Conditions Stakes, featuring exciting youngsters like Words Of Truth and Brussels. The traditional curtain call, the ÂŁ200,000 Balmoral Handicap, has drawn 47 confirmations, including Ascot regulars Native Warrior and Crown Of Oaks.
Perfect Conditions for a Perfect Day
Clerk of the Course Chris Stickels confirmed ideal going ahead of the event: “We’ve got good ground on the Straight and good to soft in places on the Round course. With limited rain forecast, we expect good to firm conditions by Saturday.”
With world champions, emerging stars, and historic rivalries, QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot 2025 is shaping up to be a blockbuster — a fitting finale to another unforgettable Flat season.
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