British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes explained

Class:Group 1
Horse Race:British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes
(ex Pride Stakes / Princess Royal Stakes)
Location:Ascot Racecourse
Ascot, England
Inaugurated:1946
Race Type:Flat / Thoroughbred
Sponsor:QIPCO
Website:Ascot
Distance:1m 3f 211y (2,406 metres)
Surface:Turf
Track:Right-handed
Qualification:Three-years-old and up
fillies and mares
Weight:8 st 13 lb (3yo);
9 st 5 lb (4yo+)
Purse:£500,000 (2021)
1st £283,550

|}The British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run over a distance of 1 mile 3 furlongs and 211 yards (2,406 metres) as part of British Champions Day at Ascot in October.

History

The event was established in 1946 and was originally called the Princess Royal Stakes. It was named after the Princess Royal at that time, Princess Mary. For a period it took place in September,[1] and it later moved to October.

The current system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and the Princess Royal Stakes subsequently held Group 3 status.

The race was run at Newmarket in 2000, after being called off at Ascot due to a security alert.[2] It was switched to Ascot's late September fixture in 2004. It took place at Newmarket again in 2005, as its usual home was closed for redevelopment. It reverted to October in 2007.

The event was promoted to Group 2 level, transferred to Newmarket and renamed the Pride Stakes in 2008.[3] It was named after Pride, a recent winner of the Champion Stakes. From this point it was staged during the venue's Champions' Meeting in mid-October. The title "Princess Royal Stakes" was assigned to a different race at Ascot, an event previously called the Harvest Stakes. The Pride Stakes had a purse of £100,000 in 2010.[4]

The race returned to Ascot and was given its present name in 2011. Its prize fund was now £250,000. Part of the newly created British Champions Day, it became the final race in the fillies & mares division of the British Champions Series.

The British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes was upgraded to Group 1 in 2013.[5] Its total prize money was doubled to £500,000. The title Pride Stakes was given to a Listed race at Newmarket formerly known as the Severals Stakes.

Records

Most successful horse (2 wins):

Leading jockey (8 wins):

Leading trainer (9 wins):

----Leading owner (4 wins):

Winners since 1979

YearWinnerAgeJockeyTrainerOwnerTime
1979Alia3Steve RaymontJeremy TreeKhalid Abdullah
1980Karamita3Lester PiggottMichael StouteHH Aga Khan IV
1981Flighting3Brian RouseJohn DunlopSandy Struthers
1982Believer3Brian RouseJohn DunlopArthur Budgett
1983Sylph3Tony IvesJeremy TreeKhalid Abdullah
1984One Way Street3Lester PiggottHenry CecilLouis Freedman
1985Free Guest4Rae GuestLuca CumaniFittocks Stud
1986Tashtiya3Walter SwinburnMichael StouteHH Aga Khan IV
1987no race
1988Banket3Brian RouseJohn Dunlop3rd Earl of Halifax2:40.66
1989Snow Bride3Steve CauthenHenry CecilSaeed bin M. Al Maktoum2:30.73
1990Narwala3Pat EdderyLuca CumaniHH Aga Khan IV2:30.36
1991Always Friendly3Alan MunroHenry CandyFahd Salman2:38.78
1992Cunning3Frankie DettoriLuca CumaniFittocks Stud2:36.19
1993no race
1994Dancing Bloom4Walter SwinburnMichael StouteLord Weinstock2:34.15
1995Labibeh3Willie CarsonJohn DunlopHamdan Al Maktoum2:41.86
1996Time Allowed3John ReidMichael StouteRobert Barnett2:33.44
1997Delilah3Olivier PeslierMichael StouteHighclere Racing Ltd2:45.33
1998Silver Rhapsody3Kieren FallonHenry CecilLordship Stud2:43.68
1999Signorina Cattiva3Frankie DettoriJohn DunlopMaria Mai Goransson2:35.40
2000Sacred Song3Richard QuinnHenry CecilNiarchos Family2:31.86
2001Head in the Clouds3Pat EdderyJohn DunlopNeil Jones2:35.73
2002Love Everlasting4Kevin DarleyMark JohnstonG. & L. Middlebrook 2:33.55
2003Itnab3Richard HillsBen HanburyHamdan Al Maktoum2:34.16
2004Mazuna3Ryan MooreClive BrittainSaeed Manana2:30.24
2005Ouija Board4Frankie DettoriEd Dunlop19th Earl of Derby2:32.45
2006Acts of Grace3Kerrin McEvoyJohn DunlopPrince A. A. Faisal2:35.64
2007Trick or Treat4Tom QueallyJames GivenOnslow / Henderson 2:36.93
2008Crystal Capella3Ryan MooreSir Michael StouteSir Evelyn de Rothschild2:31.48
2009Ashalanda3Christophe LemaireAlain de Royer-DupréHH Aga Khan IV2:31.55
2010Crystal Capella5Ryan MooreSir Michael StouteSir Evelyn de Rothschild2:34.73
2011Dancing Rain3Johnny MurtaghWilliam HaggasMartin and Lee Taylor2:27.29
2012Sapphire4Pat SmullenDermot WeldMoyglare Stud Farm2:37.32
2013Seal of Approval4George BakerJames FanshaweT R G Vestey2:39.09
2014Madame Chiang3Jim CrowleyDavid SimcockKirsten Rausing2:38.76
2015Simple Verse3Andrea AtzeniRalph BeckettQRL / Al Thani / Al Kubaisi2:32.01
2016Journey4Frankie DettoriJohn GosdenGeorge Strawbridge2:28.41
2017Hydrangea3Ryan MooreAidan O'BrienSmith / Magnier / Tabor2:40.82
2018Magical3Ryan MooreAidan O'BrienSmith / Magnier / Tabor2:33.28
2019Star Catcher3Frankie DettoriJohn GosdenAnthony Oppenheimer2:28.48
2020Wonderful Tonight3William BuickDavid MenuisierChristopher Wright2:37.84
2021Eshaada3Jim CrowleyRoger VarianShadwell Estate2:34.05
2022Emily Upjohn3Frankie DettoriJohn and Thady GosdenLloyd Webber, Tactful Finance & S Roden2:33.76
2023Poptronic4Sam JamesKevin BurkeDavid & Yvonne Blunt2:28.29

Earlier winners

See also

References

----

----

----

Notes and References

  1. News: First Day at Ascot . . 26 September 1947 . 27 August 2012.
  2. News: Lost Ascot races may be run elsewhere . Marcus . Armytage . Marcus Armytage . . 9 October 2000 . 27 August 2012.
  3. Web site: Britain's flat Pattern boosted by upgrades . . 14 January 2008 . 15 October 2009.
  4. Web site: 2010 Pride Stakes . International Federation of Horseracing Authorities . 27 August 2012.
  5. Web site: Eight races upgraded by European Pattern Committee . the-racehorse.com . 5 March 2013 . 1 April 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140502120729/http://www.the-racehorse.com/racing/news/french_guineas_g1_status_under_scrutiny_as_black_type_changes_announced . 2 May 2014 . dead .