Qipco 2000 Guineas and 1,000 Guineas entries and quotes from some connections

Entries are unveiled today for the opening two Classics of the 2012 Flat season, the QIPCO 2000 Guineas and the QIPCO 1000 Guineas, both of which take place on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket during the first weekend in May.  The great races each boast a prize fund of £350,000 and are the opening two contests in the QIPCO British Champions Series. The QIPCO 2000 Guineas is run on Saturday, May 5, with the QIPCO 1000 Guineas following on Sunday, May 6.  There are 63 entries for the QIPCO 2000 Guineas, including 16 from Ireland, four from France and one from Spain.  French trainer Mikel Delzangles famously landed the mile Classic in 2010 with Makfi and he has two hopes entered this year, Dragon Pulse and Hermival. Dragon Pulse was trained by Jessica Harrington in Ireland last season when he won two of his four starts, including the Group Two Futurity Stakes at the Curragh. He ended the campaign by taking second to the Aidan O’Brien-trained Power in the Group One National Stakes at the same venue. Hermival was successful on his only appearance to date, taking a mile newcomers’ event at Saint-Cloud in November.  Delzangles commented: “The QIPCO 2000 Guineas is a race we are considering for both horses. They will both run once before that in the trials – one will run in the Prix Djebel (Maisons-Laffitte, 7f Group Three, April 5) and the other in the Prix de Fontainebleau (Longchamp, 8f, Group Three, April 15). We will see what happens there and then decide after that.  “Dragon Pulse has been with me for three weeks. I was impressed with his Irish form, and he looks like he is a very decent horse. He has not done any work for me yet, but physically he has all the looks and size to make a champion.  “Hermival won quite impressively at Saint-Cloud and I like him. He is not a show horse, but he is a very hard worker and if he improves he could be a very good horse.  “Although he won on heavy ground, I think he will be fine on better ground.”  Another possible starter from France is the appropriately-named French Fifteen, who is trained by Nicolas Clement and has been bought by H H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani.  The son of Turtle Bowl landed four out of his six starts in 2011, culminating with a stunning success in the Group One Criterium International at Saint-Cloud on October 30.  Speaking at Chantilly yesterday, his trainer Nicolas Clement said: “French Fifteen has done well during the winter and had his first work on the Polytrack at Chantilly this morning. He went solo and I was very pleased.  “The plan now is to run him in the Prix Djebel and he is a colt who needs a true early pace to show his best.  “He has a good turn of foot and could be ridden by Olivier Peslier if he isn’t claimed by the Wertheimer brothers as he now has a second retainer with Sheikh Al Thani.”  The fourth French-trained entry is Jean-Claude Rouget’s Abtaal, who got the better of French Fifteen in a Group Three contest at Saint-Cloud on October 6.  Matusalen is the Spanish-trained entry for Mauricio Delcher Sanchez, who has already enjoyed significant success in Britain having saddled Equiano to success in the 2008 King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.  Champion Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien, chasing a sixth 2000 Guineas victory, has 11 engaged including the unbeaten Group One Racing Post Trophy winner Camelot, the current ante-post favourite.  The 16 Irish-trained entries also include Born To Sea, a sibling to the stunning 2009 2000 Guineas victor Sea The Stars and Parish Hall, winner of the Group One Dubai Dewhurst Stakes on Future Champions Day at Newmarket last season.  Richard Hannon has announced that he will retire by the end of the 2012 Flat season, but the veteran handler could saddle a fourth 2000 Guineas winner long before then. His eight entries in 2012 are headed by the unbeaten Harbour Watch, successful in the Group Two Richmond Stakes at Goodwood last season.   QIPCO 1000 GUINEAS “PRIME OPTION” FOR LA COLLINA   The QIPCO 1000 Guineas boasts a similarly cosmopolitan entry, with 17 hopefuls hailing from Ireland, eight from France and one from Spain.  One of the Irish-trained entries is La Collina. Trained by Kevin Prendergast, the Strategic Prince filly successfully took on the colts in the Group One Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh in August last year, when she proved a neck too strong for Power.  According to her trainer, the QIPCO 1000 Guineas is very much on the radar.  Prendergast said: “The QIPCO 1000 Guineas is the prime option for La Collina at the moment. We have always liked her and always thought she was quite smart.  “She beat the colt in the Phoenix Stakes (Power) that probably should have won the Dewhurst, and although she was a big price that day we did not pay much attention to that – we thought she would be hard to beat.  “She had a fillies’ problem after the Moyglare Stud Stakes that we did not pick up before the race, and that is why she ran a bit disappointing, but we won’t worry about that too much. She had got a lot closer to Maybe in the Silver Flash Stakes earlier in the season. However, I am not confident we will reverse the form, but we will certainly be there fighting it out.  “She has done very well over the winter and the ground will dictate whether or not she runs in a trial because I would not want to run her on heavy ground. She will have done enough work by the time the QIPCO 1000 Guineas comes around. She is not the biggest filly so she won’t be too hard to get ready.  “I do not think the mile will be a problem to her, she won over seven furlongs on her first start.”  As with the QIPCO 2000 Guineas, Aidan O’Brien is the trainer with the most entries to choose from, accounting for 10 of the 70 hopefuls at this stage, headed by the unbeaten antepost favourite Maybe. A five-time winner, Maybe ended her first season by taking the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh in August.  The Maktoum family’s Godolphin operation landed last year’s QIPCO 1000 Guineas with Blue Bunting and its seven entries this year, who are all trained by Mahmood Al Zarooni, include the unbeaten duo of Discourse and Lyric Of Light. Discourse’s two victories both came on Newmarket’s July Course and included the Group Three german-thoroughbred.com Sweet Solera Stakes, while Lyric Of Light’s three successes culminated with a victory over the course and distance in the Group One Shadwell Fillies’ Mile on September 23. Another Godolphin entry is last year’s Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cherry Hinton Stakes heroine Gamilati, who already has a Guineas victory to her name, having taken the UAE version in great style at Meydan last month.  Sheikh Fahad Al Thani, whose company QIPCO sponsors the race, has a strong contender in last year’s Group One Jaguar Cars Cheveley Park Stakes winner Lightening Pearl, while Elusive Kate, winner of the Group One Marcel Boussac Stakes at Longchamp, could represent John Gosden.  French handler Criquette Head-Maarek, successful four times in the 1000 Guineas, has two entries in the Khalid Abdulla-owned duo of Postale and Preferential. Mauricio Delcher Sanchez supplies the Spanish-trained entry, Irish Cliff.  Newmarket Racecourses’ Director of Racing, Michael Prosser, said: “We are delighted with the undoubted calibre and international nature of the respective entries for the QIPCO 2000 and 1000 Guineas.  “The two prestigious races not only invariably produce top-class winners, but also possess great depth in terms of quality. The QIPCO-sponsored Guineas always set up the forthcoming season – and set an exceptional standard in their own right.”   For more information please contact:   THE QIPCO 2000 GUINEAS (THE 204TH RUNNING) Class 1, Group 1, part of the QIPCO British Champions Series, £350,000 total prize fund.  Saturday, May 5, 2012. For 3-y-o entire colts & fillies, one mile. Weights: colts 9st; fillies 8st 11lb. Entries closed March 6, entries revealed March 7 (63 entries). Scratchings deadline April 24, five-day confirmation stage & £30,000 supplementary entry stage April 30, final declaration stage, 10.00am, May 3. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Monday, March 5.   Form  Horse    Owner      Trainer 211-  ABTAAL (USA)  Hamdan Al Maktoum    Jean Claude Rouget FR 412-  AKEED MOFEED  Jaber Abdullah     John Oxx IRE 1-  ALJAMAAHEER (IRE)  Hamdan Al Maktoum    Roger Varian 031-  AMONG EQUALS  Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier  Aidan O’Brien IRE 1-  APOLLO (IRE)   Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O’Brien IRE 662500- B FIFTY TWO (IRE)  Gary and Linnet Woodward   John Hills 1-  BEAUFORT TWELVE  Tony Foster & John Kelsey-Fry   William Jarvis (1)222-  BOOMERANG BOB (IRE) R J Tufft     John Hills 12-  BORN TO SEA (IRE)  Christopher Tsui    John Oxx IRE 2-  BORN TO SURPRISE  Dr Ali Ridha     Michael Bell 114-  BRONTERRE   Michael Pescod    Richard Hannon 11-  CAMELOT   Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O’Brien IRE 231150- CASPAR NETSCHER  Charles Wentworth    Alan McCabe 1021-  CHANDLERY (IRE)  Julie Wood     Richard Hannon 211151- COUPE DE VILLE (IRE) Macdonald, Wright, Creed, Smith & Jiggins Richard Hannon 11221-  CRIUS (IRE)   Titan Assets     Richard Hannon 0141(6)- CRUSADE (USA)  Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O’Brien IRE 141(0)-  DADDY LONG LEGS (USA) Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O’Brien IRE 2112-  DRAGON PULSE (IRE) Tan Kai Chah     Mikel Delzangles FR 13-  EASTERN SUN (IRE)  Prince A A Faisal & Rachel Hood  John Gosden 110-  EKTIHAAM (IRE)  Hamdan Al Maktoum    Roger Varian 2115-  FARHAAN (USA)  Hamdan Al Maktoum    John Dunlop 21123-  FARRAAJ (IRE)  Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum   Roger Varian 313-  FENCING (USA)  George Strawbridge    John Gosden 144-  FOXTROT ROMEO (IRE) Andrew Tinkler     Bryan Smart 111121- FRENCH FIFTEEN (FR) H H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani Nicolas Clement FR 1044-  FURNER’S GREEN (IRE) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O’Brien IRE 115000- GATEPOST (IRE)  Dr Marwan Koukash    Mick Channon 111-  HARBOUR WATCH (IRE) Robin Heffer & Qatar Bloodstock  Richard Hannon 020034- HAZAZ (IRE)   Saeed Manana     Clive Brittain 0-  HEAVY WEIGHT (IRE)  Jackie Bolger     Jim Bolger IRE 1-  HERMIVAL (IRE)  Gerard Augustin-Normand   Mikel Delzangles FR 133(1)-(2)(1) KINGLET (USA)  Godolphin     Mahmood Al Zarooni 2-  LIGHT HEAVY (IRE)  Jackie Bolger     Jim Bolger IRE 11-  MANDAEAN   Godolphin     Mahmood Al Zarooni 1111-5  MATUSALEN (SPA)  Cuadra Miranda      Mauricio Delcher Sanchez SPA 10-  MIBLISH   Saeed Manana     Clive Brittain 1-  MIGHTY AMBITION (USA) Godolphin     Mahmood Al Zarooni   MINSTRELS GALLERY (IRE) The Three Honest Men    John Jenkins 213-  MOST IMPROVED (IRE) Iraj Parvizi     Brian Meehan 310-  NAWWAAR (USA)  Hamdan Al Maktoum    John Dunlop 11-  NEPHRITE   Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O’Brien IRE 12021-  PARISH HALL (IRE)  Jackie Bolger     Jim Bolger IRE (2)(1)4- PEARL MIX (IRE)  Pearl Bloodstock Ltd    Ralph Beckett 2-  PERIPHERY (USA)  Godolphin     Mahmood Al Zarooni 111212- POWER   Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O’Brien IRE (3)4(1)(1)- PRINCE ALZAIN (USA) Asaad Al Banwan    Gerard Butler 4012-  PTOLEMAIC   Fiona Denniff     Bryan Smart 41-  RAYVIN BLACK  R White & V J Walsh    Mark Tompkins 1010-  REBELLIOUS GUEST  John Guest Racing    George Margarson 311320- RED DUKE (USA)  Maxilead Limited    John Quinn (1)1402- REDACT (IRE)   Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds III  Richard Hannon 315613- REPLY (IRE) Sue Magnier/Michael Tabor/Derrick Smith/Edouard Mordukhovitch Aidan O’Brien IRE 121541- ROCKINANTE (FR)  Coriolan Links Partnership III   Richard Hannon 15(3)362- SAIGON   Patrick Dalby & Richard Schuster  James Toller (1)-  SOLAR DEITY (IRE)  Andrew Tinkler     Marco Botti 310-  SPIRITUAL STAR (IRE) Thurloe Thoroughbreds XXIX   Andrew Balding 2-  TAIGAN (USA)   Sue Magnier     Aidan O’Brien IRE 1-  TALES OF GRIMM (USA) Sir Robert Ogden    Sir Michael Stoute 1-  TOP OFFER   Khalid Abdulla     Roger Charlton 021415- TRUMPET MAJOR (IRE) John Manley     Richard Hannon 31131-  WROTE (IRE)   Sue Magnier,Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith Aidan O’Brien IRE 13-  ZUMBI (IRE)   Lady Rothschild    Sir Michael Stoute   63 entries 16 Irish-trained 4 French-trained 1 Spanish-trained   BREAKDOWN OF ENTRIES BY TRAINER WITH PAST SUCCESSES IN THE QIPCO 2000 GUINEAS   11 Entries Aidan O’Brien IRE (2008 Henrythenavigator, 2006 George Washington, 2005 Footstepsinthesand, 2002 Rock Of Gibraltar, 1998 King Of Kings)   8 Entries Richard Hannon (1990 Tirol, 1987 Don’t Forget Me, 1973 Mon Fils)   4 Entries Mahmood Al Zarooni   3 Entries Jim Bolger IRE Roger Varian   2 Entries Clive Brittain (1991 Mystiko) Mikel Delzangles FR (2010 Makfi) John Dunlop John Gosden John Hills John Oxx IRE (2009 Sea The Stars) Bryan Smart Sir Michael Stoute (2001 Golan, 2000 King’s Best, 1997 Entrepreneur, 1988 Doyoun, 1985 Shadeed)   1 Entry Andrew Balding Ralph Beckett Michael Bell Marco Botti Gerard Butler Mick Channon Roger Charlton Nicolas Clement FR William Jarvis John Jenkins Alan McCabe George Margarson Brian Meehan John Quinn Jean Claude Rouget FR Mauricio Delcher Sanchez SPA James Toller Mark Tompkins   THE QIPCO 1000 GUINEAS  (THE 199TH RUNNING) Class 1, Group 1, part of the QIPCO British Champions Series, £350,000 total prize fund. Sunday, May 6, 2012. For 3-y-o fillies, one mile. Weights: 9st. Entries closed March 6, entries revealed March 7 (70 entries). Scratchings deadline April 24, six-day confirmation stage & £30,000 supplementary entry stage April 30, final declaration stage, 10.00am, May 4. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Monday, March 5.   Form  Horse    Owner      Trainer 012056- AFTER (IRE)   Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick.Smith Aidan O’Brien IRE 5324-  AHIMSA (IRE)   Annemaire O’Brien    Aidan O’Brien IRE 12-  ALLA SPERANZA  Kirsten Rausing    Jim Bolger IRE 0(1)0-  AMTHAL (IRE)   A M A Al Shorafa    Clive Brittain (2)-(1)  APPEALING (IRE)  Yvonne Jacques    Marco Botti (1)(1)  AZEVILLE (GER)  Gerard Augustin-Normand   Francois Rohaut FR 11115-  BEST TERMS   Robert Barnett     Richard Hannon 100-  COCKNEY DANCER  Phil Cunningham    Charlie Hills (4)(1)1- COQUET   Hon Mary Morrison & Partners   Hughie Morrison 00146-  DEVOTION (IRE)  Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O’Brien IRE 21-  DIALA (IRE)   Abdulla Al Khalifa    William Haggas 11-  DISCOURSE (USA)  Godolphin     Mahmood Al Zarooni 42(2)-  DULKASHE (IRE)  Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum  Luca Cumani 4(1)1110- ELUSIVE KATE (USA)  Teruya Yoshida    John Gosden 112322- EXCELETTE (IRE)  Crossfields Racing    Bryan Smart 10415-(1) FALLS OF LORA (IRE)  Godolphin     Mahmood Al Zarooni 13-  FILLIONAIRE   Ann Black     Mick Channon 213-  FIRDAWS (USA)  Hamdan Al Maktoum    Roger Varian 341222- FIRE LILY (IRE)  Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier David Wachman IRE 2210-(1)(1) GAMILATI   Godolphin     Mahmood Al Zarooni 41-  GATHERING (USA)  George Strawbridge    John Gosden 13-  GRAY PEARL   Raymond Mould    Charlie Hills (0)-  HELLO DUBAI   Abdulla Al Mansoori    David Simcock 4(3)121(0)- HOMECOMING QUEEN (IRE) Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith Aidan O’Brien IRE 121-  IRISH CLIFF (IRE)  Sunday Horses Club S.L.     Mauricio Delcher Sanchez SPA 160-  JANEY MUDDLES (IRE) June Judd & Jackie Bolger   Jim Bolger IRE 1-  KISSED (IRE)   Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O’Brien IRE 12-  KUNOOZ (IRE)  Godolphin     Mahmood Al Zarooni 1213-  LA COLLINA (IRE)  Jorg Vasicek     Kevin Prendergast IRE 1-  LACILY (USA)   Godolphin     Mahmood Al Zarooni 2100-  LADY GORGEOUS  Jaber Abdullah     Mick Channon (2)(1)  LAUGH OUT LOUD  Ann Black, Mohammed Al Qatami & Khalid Al Mudhaf Mick Channon 21311-  LIGHTENING PEARL (IRE) Pearl Bloodstock Ltd    Ger Lyons IRE 3311-  LILY AMERICA (FR)  Pandora Stud Llc    Francois Rohaut FR 351226- LILY’S ANGEL (IRE)  Middleham Park Racing XLVIII   Richard Fahey 111-  LYRIC OF LIGHT  Godolphin     Mahmood Al Zarooni 122-  MASHOORA (IRE)  Hamdan Al Maktoum    Jean Claude Rouget FR 11111-  MAYBE (IRE)   Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O’Brien IRE 10-  MISS AZEZA   Saif Ali      David Simcock 100224- MISS WORK OF ART  Mel Roberts and Nicola Meese   Richard Fahey 1-  MUAAMARA   Mohammed Al-Qatami & Khalid Al-Mudhaf Mick Channon 024331- NAYARRA (IRE)  Prince A A Faisal    Mick Channon 321-  PEARL DIVA (IRE)  John Davies     Peter Chapple-Hyam 5-  PETALUMA   Jon and Julia Aisbitt    Mick Channon 3121-(2)(5) PIMPERNEL (IRE)  Godolphin      Mahmood Al Zarooni   POSTALE   Khalid Abdulla              Criquette Head-Maarek FR 1-  PREFERENTIAL  Khalid Abdulla              Criquette Head-Maarek FR 123-  RADIO GAGA   Multiplex Racing    Ed McMahon 1-  RECKONING (IRE)  The Hon William Vestey   Jeremy Noseda 2(2)221- REGATTA (FR)  Ecurie Wildenstein                Dominique Sepulchre FR 331411- RESTIADARGENT (FR) Guy Pariente     Alex Pantall FR 126-  RUSSELLIANA  Sir Evelyn De Rothschild   Sir Michael Stoute 62-  SAFARJAL (IRE)  Hamdan Al Maktoum    Charlie Hills 312321- SAMITAR   Nick & Olga Dhandsa, John & Zoe Webster Mick Channon 015062- SEMAYYEL (IRE)  Saeed Manana     Clive Brittain 3-  SHAME ON YOU (IRE)  Cavendish Investing Ltd   Charlie Hills 1-  STARSCOPE   Cheveley Park Stud    John Gosden 41025-  SUNDAY TIMES  Allan Belshaw     Peter Chapple-Hyam 1-  THE FUGUE   Lord Lloyd-Webber    John Gosden 4415-  TIFFILIA (IRE)   Jackie Bolger     Jim Bolger IRE 361111- TOPEKA (IRE)   Gerry Oldham     Robert Collet FR 54-  TOPTEMPO   Roalco Limited     Mark Tompkins 31-  TWIRL (IRE)   Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O’Brien IRE 0(1)4-  UP (IRE)   Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O’Brien IRE 4(1)06-  VILLENEUVE   Gary & Lesley Middlebrook   William Muir 2(1)1-  WADING (IRE)   Sue Magnier,Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith Aidan O’Brien IRE 4510-  WAHYLAH (IRE)  Saeed Manana     Clive Brittain 016-  WHAT’S UP (IRE)  A & A      Kevin Ryan (2)2-  WONDERFUL (IRE)  Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O’Brien IRE 124-  YELLOW ROSEBUD (IRE) Dr Ronan Lambe    Dermot Weld IRE   70 entries 17 Irish-trained 8 French-trained 1 Spanish-trained   BREAKDOWN OF ENTRIES BY TRAINER WITH PAST SUCCESSES IN THE QIPCO 1000 GUINEAS   10 Entries Aidan O’Brien IRE (2005 Virginia Waters)   7 Entries Mick Channon Mahmood Al Zarooni (2011 Blue Bunting)   4 Entries John Gosden (2000 Lahan) Charlie Hills   3 Entries Jim Bolger IRE (2007 Finsceal Beo) Clive Brittain (1993 Sayyedati, 1984 Pebbles)   2 Entries Peter Chapple-Hyan Richard Fahey Criquette Head-Maarek FR (2010 Special Duty, 1992 Hatoof, 1988 Ravinella, 1983 Ma Biche) Francois Rohaut FR David Simcock   1 Entry Marco Botti Robert Collet FR Luca Cumani William Haggas Richard Hannon Ger Lyons IRE Ed McMahon Hughie Morrison William Muir Jeremy Noseda Alex Pantall FR Kevin Prendergast IRE Jean Claude Rouget FR Kevin Ryan Mauricio Delcher Sanchez SPA Dominique Sepulchre FR Bryan Smart Sir Michael Stoute (2003 Russian Rhythm, 1989 Musical Bliss) Mark Tompkins Roger Varian David Wachman IRE Dermot Weld IRE   My thanks to Racenews for the information

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Sole Power ‘likely to go back up to 117′ – BHA handicapper

Irish raider Sole Power won the first sprint race of the QIPCO British Champions Series, the betfred.com Temple Stakes at Haydock Park this afternoon, in impressive style. In doing so, he ran up to the form which landed him the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York last August at odds of 100-1.

“He looks to have bounced right back to his Nunthorpe form,” said the BHA handicapper on duty at Haydock Park this afternoon, Stuart Copeland.

“He went into today’s race on 114, having been dropped three pounds since his career high 117 in the Nunthorpe.

“Looking at Prohibit and Borderlescott (both 112) in third and fourth, Kingsgate Native looks to have run to his mark of 115, so I think Chris (Nash, the BHA’s five furlong sprint handicapper) is likely to put Sole Power back up to 117 when he considers the race.”

Winning trainer, Edward Lynam, has nominated the second race in the QIPCO British Champions Series sprint division, the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot on Tuesday 14 June, as the four-year-old’s next race, with a return trip to York for the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes on Friday 19 August the main target later on.

“He’ll go to the posh place for the King’s Stand, but the race we want to win again is the Nunthorpe,” said Lynam.

The Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes is the fifth sprint in the series.  Between it and the King’s Stand, both of which are run over five furlongs like today’s race, come two of the major six furlong sprints, the Golden Jubilee Stakes (Royal Ascot, Saturday 18 June) and the Darley July Cup (Newmarket, Saturday 9 July).

The Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes is followed by the Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock Park on Saturday 3 September before the grand finale to the QIPCO British Champions Series at Ascot on Saturday 15 October, QIPCO British Champions Day.  The £250,000 QIPCO British Champions Sprint over six furlongs is the final race in sprint category on Britain’s richest ever raceday.

The next 3 QIPCO British Champions Series races:

Investec Coronation Cup, Epsom, Friday 3 June (MIDDLE DISTANCE)

Investec Oaks, Epsom, Friday 3 June (FILLIES & MARES)

Investec Derby, Epsom, Saturday 4 June (MIDDLE DISTANCE)

………………………………………………………………………………………..

QIPCO British Champions Series races to date:

QIPCO 2000 Guineas, Newmarket, Saturday 30 April (MILE)  Frankel

QIPCO 1000 Guineas, Newmarket, Sunday 1 May (FILLIES & MARES)  Blue Bunting

Emirates Airline Yorkshire Cup, York, Friday 13 May (LONG DISTANCE)  Duncan

JLT Lockinge Stakes, Newbury, Saturday 14 May (MILE)  Canford Cliffs

betfred.com Temple Stakes, Haydock Park, Saturday 21 May (SPRINT)  Sole Power

QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS SERIES

TRAINER OF THE SERIES LEADERBOARD (AFTER 5 RACES)

Wins-2nd-3rd

Richard Hannon                1 – 1 – 0

John Gosden                      1 – 0 – 1

Henry Cecil                         1 – 0 – 0

Mahmood Al Zarooni     1 – 0 – 0

Edward Lynam                   1 – 0 – 0

QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS SERIES

JOCKEY OF THE SERIES LEADERBOARD (AFTER 4 RACES)

Wins-2nd-3rd

Richard Hughes                1 – 1 – 0

Tom Queally                      1 – 0 – 0

Frankie Dettori                1 – 0 – 0

William Buick                    1 – 0 – 0

Keagan Latham                 1 – 0 – 0

Both championships are decided on the number of winners ridden/trained across the 35 race series.  In the event of a tie, the number of seconds and thirds (and, if necessary, lower placings) will be taken into account.  The winners will be presented with a specially commissioned trophy on QIPCO British Champions at Ascot on Saturday 15 October and their nominated charity will receive a cheque for £25,000.

Frankie Dettori unveiled as the face of Qipco British Champions Series

Leading jockey and racing celebrity Frankie Dettori will be the face of the new QIPCO British Champions Series which will showcase the best of British Flat racing over the next six months. 

Frankie will act as an ambassador for the 35 race series that begins on Saturday 30 April with the QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and runs throughout the summer, encompassing British racing’s key festivals and culminating at QIPCO British Champions Day – the richest fixture in British racing history – at Ascot on Saturday 15 October. 

As part of his ambassadorial role, Frankie will offer his unique insight into the sport of Flat racing, talking about his favourite races and courses, the jockeys and trainers to look out for throughout the Series, style tips for going racing and everything in between. 

Frankie Dettori, the new face of the QIPCO British Champions Series, said: “This is a fantastic development for my sport. Linking together all the best races in Britain is going to create a real buzz and bring new fans to horse racing. British Flat racing is the best in the world and I’m sure this will help encourage fans of other sports to take an interest in ours. 

“I will be giving my views on all the big races, the characters in the sport, which jockeys and trainers to look out for and what goes on behind the scenes. I can’t wait to talk about the amazing courses and festivals that are part of the Series, as well as giving style and fashion tips and telling people how to get the most out of our sport. 

“And most of all I’m looking forward to winning some of the QIPCO British Champions Series races myself, of course!” 

Karl Oliver, Chief Executive of British Champions Series Limited, said: “Frankie is one of the most recognisable faces in British sport; he holds a unique place in the hearts of the British public and racing fans. 

“With his outstanding racing pedigree and record of success, there was no one better than Frankie to be the face of the QIPCO British Champions Series. His enthusiasm for Flat racing and his infectious character make him the perfect choice of sporting celebrity to engage and excite a new audience. 

“In his own inimitable style, Frankie will share his views on the great races, racecourses and characters who will light up the Series, which we hope will entertain sports fans across the country.”

The QIPCO British Champions Series is a major new premier series of British horseracing that will launch on Saturday 30 April 2011 with the QIPCO 2000 Guineas on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile course and will climax at a spectacular new day in the British racing calendar called QIPCO British Champions Day, to be staged at Ascot on Saturday 15 October 2011.

The QIPCO British Champions Series will comprise five categories, namely Sprint, Mile, Middle Distance, Long Distance and Fillies and Mares. Each will feature the seven highest-rated races in that category and will showcase the very best of British Flat racing, bringing together the world’s finest horses, jockeys and trainers for this series of 28 days.

Staged at the leading courses – Ascot, Doncaster, Epsom Downs, Goodwood, Haydock Park, Newbury, Newmarket’s July Course, Newmarket’s Rowley Mile, Sandown Park and York – the Series will encompass all British Flat racing’s key festivals, including the QIPCO Guineas Festival, the Investec Derby Festival, Royal Ascot, the July Festival, Glorious Goodwood, the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival at York and the Ladbrokes St Leger Meeting.

QIPCO British Champions Day, the climax to the Series, will see the final races run in each of the five categories, including the most valuable race ever run in Britain, the £1.3m QIPCO Champion Stakes, and the most valuable mile race ever run in Europe, the £1m Queen Elizabeth II Stakes sponsored by QIPCO. This ultimate showpiece will be the richest fixture in British racing history, featuring more than £3 million in prize money. 

About QIPCO Holding: 

QIPCO is a private investment holding company owned by six brothers who are members of the Royal Family of Qatar. The Chief Executive is Sheikh Hamad, who together with his brothers are nephews of His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Emir of the State of Qatar. One of the brothers, Sheikh Fahad, owns, under the umbrella of Pearl Bloodstock, 40 horses in training in Britain and Ireland. 

QIPCO stands for Qatar Investment & Projects Development Holding Company (QIPCO Holding) and is one of the leading private shareholding companies in Qatar. 

Established in 1999, QIPCO has a diverse range of interests, including real estate, construction, oil and gas, trading and services, finance, health together with joint ventures with renowned international companies, such as Siemens and Thyssenkrupp. Over time, the group has diversified itself to form individual subsidiaries, each operating independently and specialising in their fields of expertise.