Champions Deliver on Champions Day at Ascot

Mark Smith - Sunday October 21

While The Cliffsofmoher (IRE) pulled up one and three-quarter lengths short of crediting Galileo with his 74th Group 1 winner when a gallant third in the Caulfield Cup, Coolmore's super sire hit that mark when the Aidan O'Brien-trained Magical won the QIPCO British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes on a magical Champions day at Ascot.

Galileo eased past the mark set by his own sire Sadler's Wells and now only bows to another Coolmore legend, Danehill who has a total of 84 winners at the highest level worldwide.

In defeating the Dubawi fillies in Coronet and Lah Ti Dar, Magical joins her triple Group 1-winning sister Rhododendron on the honour board for Pivotal's remarkable daughter Halfway To Heaven who numbered wins in the Group 1 Irish 1000 Guineas, Group 1 Nassau Stakes and G1 Sun Chariot Stakes in her career on the track.

Advertisement

There were three remarkable and emotional victories at Ascot for the champion trainer John Gosden with the ageless Frankie Dettori on two of them.


After earning his connections a £1million bonus with wins in the Yorkshire Cup, Ascot Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup and Lonsdale Cup, Stradivarius kept his season at a perfect five for five in the Group II QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup (2m) when defeating last year's Melbourne Cup sixth Thomas Hobson.

The son of Sea The Stars will be back next season but it's unlikely his stablemate Cracksman (pictured) will after defending his title in the Group 1 QIPCO British Champion Stakes, the same race that brought the curtain down on the career of his sire Frankel.

No stud plans have been announced for the Anthony Oppenheimer homebred whose winning margin of six lengths was just a length short of his winning margin 12 months ago.

The rising 5yo retired with a record of 8 wins, 2 seconds and 1 from 11 starts with four at the highest level.

He is another out of a mare by Pivotal, this time the stakes-winning Rhadegunda who also produced the Group III Solario Stakes winner Fantastic Moon (Dalakhani).

Another fan favourite Roaring Lion made it four Group 1 wins on the trot in the Queen Elizabeth 11 Stakes (1m).

With Oisin Murphy in the saddle, Qatar Racing's grey son of Kitten's Joy toughed out a fighting neck victory over Fastnet Rock's daughter I Can Fly.

Sheikh Fahad said the Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs on November 3 is under consideration before he retires to Tweenhills Stud, which is also the Northern Hemisphere home of Zoustar.

Advertisment
More Reading...
First Stakes Victory For Better Then Ready’s Epic Proportions
With victories in NSW, Victoria and Queensland since July, Ciaron Maher’s Better Than Ready gelding Epic Proportions has produced some strong efforts in his last four starts in the sunshine state, but none more so than his effort of Saturday to win the Listed BRC Keith Noud Stakes (1200m) when leading throughout. 
Star WA Mare Storyville on Track for G1 Railway
Quality four year old mare Storyville (Overshare) collected her third stakes win and slammed the door of the Last Chance Saloon shut on a couple of potential Railway Stakes rivals in the G3 RJ Peters Stakes 1500m at Ascot.
Famous Family Produces G1 NZ 2000 Guineas
Victory bells have been ringing for Marie Leicester and her family for decades, with Romanoff the latest to hit a Group One note.
Sires With Winners - Sunday November 16
Here is the full list of 61 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
2026 Inglis Classic Now Online
The catalogue for the 2026 Classic Yearling Sale – the fastest growing success story of the Southern Hemisphere’s early-season auctions – is now available online.
Exceedance Filly Breaks Maiden with G3 Champion fillies Victory
Classy Exceedance daughter Pure Excess galloped out of maiden company and into the headlines when she got up for a heartstopping last stride victory over the favourite, in the G3 WA Champions Fillies Stakes on opening day of The Pinnacles carnival at Ascot.
2026 Inglis Classic Sire Break Up and Vendor Representation
The 2026 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale is now online with 798 yearlings which is pretty much on on a par with last year’s 805 and if you believe variety is the spice of life this catalogue is going to make you happy.
Goffs November Foal Sale Offers Insight
The Goffs November Foal Sale kicks off later tonight our time and runs from November 17 – 20 and this year will hold significant interest with the first NH bred foals being offered for high profile Kiwi shuttlers Chaldean (GB) (Frankel) and Paddington (GB) (Siyouni) as well as Darley shuttler Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream), who has an amazing 43 entries!
Victorians Supporting National Thoroughbred Week
From November 20–24, dozens of farms and stables around Australia are opening their gates to the public for National Thoroughbred Week. It’s a chance for everyday Aussies see what happens beyond race day and on the farms - and to discover the deep care, commitment, and culture that surrounds the thoroughbred.
Almanzor Mare Back on Track
Classy mare Mary Shan has black-type targets on her agenda after bouncing back to winning form in Saturday’s Happy Hire Cup (1400m) at Tauranga.