Hi all,
Seven races, five Group 1s, the best horses, jockeys, and trainers — it promised to be a thrilling finale to the British Flat season.
The driest spell of weather in over a decade ensured good ground at Ascot for British Champions Day. And when you get good ground, you get the best horses turning up.
I said last week that this could prove to be the best Champions Day yet – and with everything building towards a mouthwatering Group 1 Champion Stakes, it certainly had that feel.
Inside today’s main piece you can read my thoughts on the Champions Day action.
Champions Day Review
Trawlerman Towers Again
It looked a penalty kick for long odds-on favourite Trawlerman in the Long Distance Cup and so it proved. The race had been upgraded to Group 1 status, but with only four rivals, it highlighted the shortage of genuine stayers in Britain and Ireland.
Trawlerman produced another high-class staying performance to win the race for a second time. Weak in the pre-race betting, he took it up four furlongs out and William Buick kicked for home on the turn. He wasn’t for catching. Stablemate Sweet William chased him down all the way but never looked likely to get there. Few horses these days are bred to thrive over a strongly-run two miles, but Trawlerman is one of them. He’ll be back next season to defend his Ascot Gold Cup crown, hopefully with a genuine rival emerging from Scandinavia.
Mission Control Lifts Off
A conditions race with no conditions — now that’s an oxymoron. It was a bizarre inclusion on Champions Day and, in truth, not needed. You couldn’t even make the case it was a stallion-making contest, with both the favourite Words Of Truth and winner Mission Control already gelded.
Despite the £128,850 prize to the winner, only 11 lined up. Words Of Truth, a Group 2 winner last time, was well clear on ratings but looked worth opposing at odds-on. Mission Control, back up to 6f, cruised through the race and took it up a furlong out, holding off a late surge from Ardisia. The runner-up had improved to win the Two-Year-Old Trophy at Redcar and took another step forward to claim second, while Words Of Truth lacked the pace of the winner back on quicker ground.
Mission Control has plenty of ability and could do well sprinting next season but he’s not near the top of Ballydoyle’s juvenile ranks.
Powerful Glory Shocks the Sprinters
Then came another spin of the Group 1 sprint roulette wheel. Royal Ascot C&D winner Lazzat was a well-backed favourite and looked set to win a furlong out – only to be chinned on the line by Powerful Glory at 200/1.
The winner, a smart juvenile who landed the Mill Reef Stakes last year, had been well below that level on two starts this season. But everything clicked here. Jamie Spencer switched him off in the rear, got the perfect tow from Quinault down the near side, and produced him late to lead in the final strides.
Lazzat won his race down the centre and, if the field had raced as one group, he’d likely have prevailed narrowly. Instead, we had a shock result — a brilliant training performance from Richard Fahey and a trademark ride from Spencer.
A result that summed up the state of the sprint division in Europe. Who’s turn is it next?
Kalpana Makes It Look Easy
I thought the front two in the betting – Kalpana and Estrange – were vulnerable in the Fillies’ and Mares race. Last year’s winner Kalpana was clearly the class horse, but I thought she might have had a hard race in the Arc. I also thought Estrange needed softer ground.
I was wrong. Well positioned in a slowly run race, Kalpana made it look easy, striding clear for a straightforward win, with Colin Keane committing her on the turn to perfection.
Estrange ran a fine second despite failing to settle, proving she can win a Group 1 against her own sex, maybe in Germany, on softer ground.
The slow pace meant nothing came from the rear, but on a day of surprises at least the best horse in the race took the prize. It will be interesting to see if connections keep Kalpana and Estrange in training as five-year-olds.
Cicero’s Gift Stuns QEII Field
Field Of Gold had looked a potential superstar after landing both the Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes. Found to be lame after a disappointing run in the Sussex Stakes, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes offered him the chance to rediscover his early-season sparkle. It wasn’t to be. The 13/8 favourite could only finish fifth behind a shock winner, Cicero’s Gift.
Rated just 109 and best known for his soft-ground form, Cicero’s Gift was sent off at 100/1, yet he tore up the form book in style. Drawn in stall one, he came from the rear to lead a furlong out and held off The Lion In Winter, with Alakazi and course specialist Docklands close behind.
It was a fine run from the runner-up, though connections will feel he missed an open Group 1 opportunity, given his 8lb higher mark than the winner. Alakazi continues his steady rise, while Docklands was unlucky — denied a clear run two furlongs out, he’d likely have finished second with a better passage.
As for Field Of Gold, he raced wider and never got involved as the race unfolded away from him. He may have needed the run, and hopefully connections will keep him in training as a 4yo. He remains far too good not to bounce back.
It was one race to many for Fallen Angel who was in trouble a fair way out.
Calandagan Claims Champion Glory
The Champion Stakes promised to be the race of the season, and it delivered. We had the ground, we had the horses, and we got a proper race. You can relive the race here.
The pacemakers for Ombudsman and Delacroix ensured we got an honest tempo, setting things up perfectly for the closers. On a day full of shocks, this one went to form as the market leaders Ombudsman and Calandagan fought it out — with the latter emerging decisively on top.
Both were held up in the rear early, with Ombudsman tracking Calandagan closely. There was no more than a length between the pair when they made their efforts. Calandagan got first run and his proven stamina for further kicked in powerfully through the final furlong. He drew away to win by 2¼ lengths, producing a career best.
His record at Ascot now reads 1211, and he’s equally effective at 1m2f or 1m4f. It’s hard to argue against Calandagan being the best horse in Europe, even ahead of stablemate and Arc winner Daryz. As a gelding, he’ll stay in training next year and it will take something special to lower his colours in 2026. Ombudsman will also stay in training next year so we can hopefully look forward to more great clashes.
Almaqam ran a stormer in third, doing best of those ridden closer to the pace. Softer ground would suit him even better, and he looks a Group 1 winner in waiting possibly over further. Delacroix was squeezed up two furlongs out and beaten just a nose for third — though he was never threatening the front two.
As for Economics, it was another disappointment. Making his first start since last year’s race, he reportedly bled again, casting real doubt over this talented colt’s future.
Crown Of Oaks Toughs It Out in Balmoral Battle
Crown Of Oaks showed grit and stamina to win the Balmoral Handicap (1m) from the front. A winner over 1m2f here last month, his extra stamina proved crucial as he fended off late challenges from Holloway Boy and Ebt’s Guard, who dead-heated for second.
It was a strange race tactically. The field initially split into two groups — four, including the winner, stayed stands side while the rest went more far side. After two furlongs, William Buick on Fifth Column noticed the stands side group were in front and switched across, prompting the others to follow.
That move cost those drawn low, particularly Ebt’s Guard (stall 1) and Holloway Boy (stall 2), who covered plenty of extra ground before staying on to be beaten only a neck. Had the others not followed Buick, we might have seen a different result. As you may have guessed from my tone I was on Ebt’s Guard.
That said, let’s take nothing away from the improving three-year-old Crown Of Oaks, who deserves full credit for a brave front-running success. His jockey went the shortest way — those on the dead heating runners-up didn’t.
Champions Day Verdict
Champions Day delivered class, shocks, and a sense of finality. Calandagan confirmed himself as Europe’s top middle-distance performer. Kalpana underlined her quality against her own sex.
As for the 200/1 and 100/1 winners, I can just about understand Powerful Glory’s success — but Cicero’s Gift? That still leaves me scratching my head. Ascot’s straight course is a lottery. We shouldn’t be seeing 100/1 winners in Group 1 races.
The sprinting division? Absolute garbage.
As curtain comes down on another Flat season, there’s that familiar touch of melancholy. The big days will return soon enough, but for now, it’s time to reflect. Champions Day had everything class, chaos, and the kind of unpredictability that keeps us coming back for more.
Monday Racing: Pontefract Signs Off
Pontefract stages its final meeting of the 2025 Flat season. The feature is the Listed EBF Silver Tankard Stakes (3:03) for two-year-olds, supported by a competitive Class 2 fillies’ sprint handicap (3:33).
The going was described as good, but Sunday’s rain could change that. It’ll be interesting to see how much has got into the ground.
Only five runners line up for the Silver Tankard. Shayem sets the form standard after winning at Epsom 22 days ago, though he’s unproven on softer ground. Rochfortbridge, fourth to Dewhurst winner Gewan in the Acomb at York, wasn’t ideally placed at Chantilly last time but should be fine over a mile on easy ground.
Morven, from Ralph Beckett’s in-form yard, won a Haydock novice and looks open to more improvement. Beckett has taken this race twice in the last decade. Meanwhile, Joseph O’Brien sends Green Carrera from Ireland following her recent Thurles success. She stays a mile well and could improve again in these conditions.
In the 3:33 fillies’ sprint handicap, Sophia’s Starlight looks primed for a repeat of last year’s win in the race She’s 3lb lower than when winning this race 12 months ago and shaped at Ripon like she’s returning to form. Softer ground suits her ideally.
Stormy Impact is another to note. She won the 3yo Dash at Epsom and later scored over 6f at Wolverhampton. Her Ayr Listed run was respectable, but 6f on soft ground could stretch her stamina.
Summary:
Sophia’s Starlight can sign off the Flat season with another C&D success if the rain has got into the ground.
In tomorrow's main piece you'll find five NH horses worth following over the coming weeks.
Good luck with your Monday bets.
John