Queen Elizabeth II Stakes explained

Class:Group 1
Horse Race:Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
(British Champions Mile)
Location:Ascot Racecourse
Ascot, England
Inaugurated:1955
Race Type:Flat / Thoroughbred
Sponsor:QIPCO
Website:Ascot
Distance:1 mile (1,609 metres)
Surface:Turf
Track:Straight
Qualification:Three-years-old and up
Weight:9 st 1 lb (3yo);
9 st 4 lb (4yo+)
Allowances
3 lb for fillies and mares
Purse:£1,140,000 (2022)
1st: £655,700

|}The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it is scheduled to take place as part of British Champions Day each year in October.

History

The event was established in 1955, and it was originally held in September. It was created when a race called the Knights' Royal Stakes[1] was renamed in honour of Queen Elizabeth II. The first three winners were all trained in France.

The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and the "QEII" was initially given Group 2 status. It was promoted to Group 1 level in 1987.

The race was added to the Breeders' Cup Challenge series in 2008. From this point the winner earned an automatic invitation to compete in the Breeders' Cup Mile. It was removed from the series in 2012.

The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes was switched to October in 2011. It became part of a new fixture called British Champions Day, and its prize fund was increased fourfold to £1,000,000. It now serves as the mile-category final of the British Champions Series.

Records

Most successful horse (2 wins):

Leading jockey (8 wins):

Leading trainer (5 wins):

Leading owner (5 wins):

Winners since 1970

YearWinnerAgeJockeyTrainerOwnerTime
1970Welsh Pageant4Sandy BarclayNoel MurlessJim Joel1:42.10
1971Brigadier Gerard3Joe MercerDick HernJean Hislop1:41.39
1972Brigadier Gerard4Joe MercerDick HernJean Hislop1:39.90
1973Jan Ekels4Jimmy LindleyGuy HarwoodAnthony Bodie1:47.20
1974no race
1975Rose Bowl3Willie CarsonFulke Johnson HoughtonJane Engelhard1:49.00
1976Rose Bowl4Willie CarsonFulke Johnson HoughtonJane Engelhard1:43.50
1977Trusted4Willie CarsonJohn DunlopDuchess of Norfolk1:41.40
1978Homing3Willie CarsonDick Hern2nd Baron Rotherwick1:40.40
1979Kris3Joe MercerHenry CecilLord Howard de Walden1:40.69
1980Known Fact3Willie CarsonJeremy TreeKhalid Abdullah1:40.02
1981To-Agori-Mou3Lester PiggottGuy HarwoodAndry Muinos1:46.80
1982Buzzards Bay4Walter SwinburnHugh CollingridgeVera McKinney
1983Sackford3Greville StarkeyGuy HarwoodAnthony Bodie1:39.90
1984Teleprompter4Willie CarsonBill Watts18th Earl of Derby1:42.96
1985Shadeed3Walter SwinburnMichael StouteMaktoum Al Maktoum1:38.80
1986Sure Blade3Brent ThomsonBarry HillsSheikh Mohammed1:41.71
1987Milligram3Pat EdderyMichael StouteHelena Springfield Ltd1:40.04
1988Warning3Pat EdderyGuy HarwoodKhalid Abdullah1:40.51
1989Zilzal3Walter SwinburnMichael StouteMana Al Maktoum1:40.57
1990Markofdistinction4Frankie DettoriLuca CumaniGerald Leigh1:39.70
1991Selkirk3Ray CochraneIan BaldingGeorge Strawbridge1:44.34
1992Lahib4Willie CarsonJohn DunlopHamdan Al Maktoum1:44.50
1993Bigstone3Pat EdderyÉlie LelloucheDaniel Wildenstein1:42.89
1994Maroof4Richard HillsRobert ArmstrongHamdan Al Maktoum1:42.75
1995Bahri3Willie CarsonJohn DunlopHamdan Al Maktoum1:40.54
1996Mark of Esteem3Frankie DettoriSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin1:40.95
1997Air Express3Olivier PeslierClive BrittainMohamed Obaida1:40.90
1998Desert Prince3Olivier PeslierDavid LoderLucayan Stud1:39.63
1999Dubai Millennium3Frankie DettoriSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin1:46.24
2000Observatory3Kevin DarleyJohn GosdenKhalid Abdullah1:41.40
2001Summoner4Richard HillsSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin1:44.54
2002Where Or When3Kevin DarleyTerry MillsJohn Humphreys1:41.37
2003Falbrav5Darryll HollandLuca CumaniRencati / Yoshida1:38.99
2004Rakti5Philip RobinsonMichael JarvisGary Tanaka1:39.82
20055Christophe LemaireLuca CumaniThe Australian Syndicate1:37.87
2006George Washington3Michael KinaneAidan O'BrienMagnier / Tabor / Smith 1:40.06
2007Ramonti5Frankie DettoriSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin1:42.45
2008Raven's Pass3Jimmy FortuneJohn GosdenPrincess Haya of Jordan1:38.94
2009Rip Van Winkle3Johnny MurtaghAidan O'BrienMagnier / Tabor / Smith 1:38.82
2010Poet's Voice3Frankie DettoriSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin1:39.76
2011Frankel3Tom QueallySir Henry CecilKhalid Abdullah1:39.45
2012Excelebration4Joseph O'BrienAidan O'BrienSmith / Magnier / Tabor1:42.33
2013Olympic Glory3Richard HughesRichard Hannon Sr.Sheikh Joaan al Thani1:44.18
2014Charm Spirit3Olivier PeslierFreddy HeadAbdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani1:46.28
2015Solow5Maxime GuyonFreddy HeadWertheimer et Frère1:41.92
2016Minding3Ryan MooreAidan O'BrienMagnier / Tabor / Smith 1:38.53
2017Persuasive4Frankie DettoriJohn GosdenCheveley Park Stud1:46.13
2018Roaring Lion3Oisin MurphyJohn GosdenQatar Racing1:42.48
2019King of Change3Sean LeveyRichard Hannon Jr.Ali Abdulla Saeed1:44.88
2020The Revenant5Pierre-Charles BoudotFrancis-Henri GraffardAl Asayl France1:45.13
2021Baaeed3Jim CrowleyWilliam HaggasShadwell Estate1:42.57
2022Bayside Boy3Tom MarquandRoger VarianTeme Valley & Ballylinch Stud1:45.53
2023Big Rock3Aurélien LemaitreChristopher Head Yeguada Centurion SL1:44.58

Earlier winners

Knights' Royal Stakes

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes

See also

References

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Notes and References

  1. News: Knights' Royal Stakes . . 25 September 1954 . 27 August 2012.