The Qipco Champion Stakes has been a notably elusive prize for Irish-trained horses with just a single winner in the last 40 years but it is being targeted with a vengeance this time and Free Eagle continues to top the betting for the climax of Britain's new €5.7 million 'Champions Weekend. '
Newmarket hosts the opening day of Europe's final major festival of 2014 on Friday with a triple-Group 1 card devoted to two-year-olds but it is Ascot on Saturday that has proved notably successful for Irish raiders since it hosted its first 'Champions Day' in 2011. The following year Irish trained horses famously won the first four races, with Dermot Weld successful with Rite Of Passage and Sapphire, and the Curragh trainer has confirmed: "If everything is OK, the plan is for Free Eagle to run, but a final decision won't be taken until later in the week when we know more about ground."
Aidan O’Brien doesn’t have this year’s Derby hero Australia to pick from for Saturday’s Group 1 Ascot bonanza but indicated yesterday that his 2013 Epsom Derby winner Ruler Of The World could line up for the Champion Stakes, while Kingsbarns may tackle the QEII, the race in which he was third last year.
The €6 million filly Chicqita is under consideration for the Fillies & Mares Stakes.
“In hindsight I was happy enough with her run in the Arc. She was very badly drawn,” he said before nominating Gleneagles as a possible starter in Friday’s Dewhurst where the disqualified Lagadere ‘winner’ may be joined in the Middle Park by The Great War and Qualify in the Fillies Mile.
