7th August 2019 – A star-studded entry of 31 fillies and mares has been received for the Group 1 Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile Racecourse on Saturday, 5th October.
No less than four Classic winners and eight different individual Group 1 winners are engaged in this £250,000 contest, which is run over a straight mile and is the penultimate leg in the Fillies & Mares category of the 2019 QIPCO British Champions Series.
The defending champion, Laurens; the recent Group 1 Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes heroine, Veracious; and last year’s Group 1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas winner, Billesdon Brook, head the home team.
But this race has long been a magnet for the best fillies from overseas, with five French victories in its last 11 runnings and three more of the winners during the same period travelling from Ireland, so it is no surprise that 18 of the 31 entries hail from outside Britain.
Obligate, the winner of the Group 2 Prix de Sandringham who lost her unbeaten record when finishing third to Laurens in last month’s Prix Rothschild, is part of an eight-strong French contingent alongside Watch Me, successful in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, and the Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches winner, Castle Lady.
Triumphant in both this year’s Group 1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas and its Irish equivalent, Hermosa is one of 11 potential Irish runners alongside two more dual Group 1 scorers, Magical and Iridessa.
Pascal Bary, trainer of Obligate, said:
“I have never previously had a runner in the Kingdom Of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes but it is under strong consideration as a possible target for Obligate.
“The other likely race for her is the Prix du Moulin [at ParisLongchamp on 8th September] but I need to talk through her programme with Teddy Grimthorpe [racing manager to Obligate’s owner-breeder, Prince Khalid Abdullah].
“Obligate ran very well in the Prix Rothschild, which was her first try on a straight course, only losing out to two crack four-year-olds. Travelling to Newmarket is very easy and I would also not be worried about her handling the Rowley Mile’s undulations.”
Notes to Editors
The 31 entries for the Group 1 Kingdom Of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes run at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile Racecourse on Saturday, 5th October, are as follows:
Anna Nerium (GB), Billesdon Brook (GB), Crown Walk (GB), I Can Fly (GB), Laurens (FR), Magical (IRE), Magic Wand (IRE), Move Swiftly (GB), Red Tea (GB), Solar Gold (IRE), Style Presa (FR), Ummalnar (GB), Veracious (GB), Bowled Over (IRE), Castle Lady (IRE), Commes (FR), Fleeting (IRE), Frosty (IRE), Ghaziyah (GB), Goddess (USA), Happen (USA), Hermosa (IRE), Iridessa (IRE), Lady Wannabe (IRE), Lavender's Blue (IRE), Magnetic Charm (GB), Maqsad (FR), Nooramunga (FR), Obligate (GB), Twist 'n' Shake (GB), Watch Me (FR) (31).
About QIPCO British Champions Series
QIPCO British Champions Series shines the spotlight on Britain's most prestigious Flat races between May and October, culminating in the grand finale on Saturday 19th October 2019 at Ascot Racecourse with the richest race day in British history – QIPCO British Champions Day.
Hosted across ten of the UK's leading racecourses it encompasses the top British racing festivals, including the QIPCO Guineas Festival at Newmarket, the Investec Derby Festival at Epsom, Royal Ascot, the Moët & Chandon Newmarket July Festival, The Qatar Goodwood Festival, the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival at York and the William Hill St Leger Festival at Doncaster.
QIPCO British Champions Series comprises five easy-to-follow race categories – Sprint, Mile, Middle Distance, Long Distance and Fillies & Mares. For tickets to QIPCO British Champions Day on Saturday 19th October go to britishchampionsday.co.uk
About Newmarket Racecourses
Newmarket’s two magical racecourses, the Rowley Mile and the July Course, together form the greatest venue in the East of England. Hosting exhilarating world class Flat racing, pulsating music nights, great value family days, award-winning restaurants and exceptional conferences, two years ago Newmarket Racecourses proudly celebrated 350 years of extraordinary royal patronage.
Newmarket Racecourses is part of The Jockey Club which stages thrilling sporting occasions including The Randox Health Grand National, The Cheltenham Festival and The Investec Derby. Millions of people every year enjoy the special experiences we offer through racing, music, food and entertainment. Governed by Royal Charter, every penny we make goes back into British Racing to help the sport thrive. We were founded in 1750 and today we are the largest commercial group in Britain’s second-biggest spectator sport, operating 15 racecourses nationwide, The National Stud, Jockey Club Estates, Jockey Club Catering, Jockey Club Live and our charity, Racing Welfare. For more information visit www.thejockeyclub.co.uk.
For further information please contact:
Michael Prosser, Head of Racing, Jockey Club Racecourses East Region on 07802 844578 or Michael.prosser@thejockeyclub.co.uk
Naomi Lawson, Head of PR, QIPCO British Champions Series, on 07881 266359 or nlawson@greatbritishracing.com
