The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is the finale of the mile distance series and is part of Qipco British Champions Day. The race brings together Europe’s best milers in a £1.1 million showdown at Ascot. It has been won by some of the biggest names in racing including the legendary Frankel.
Length of the race – One mile.
Where to watch – RTV and ITV.
When to watch – Saturday, October 19 at 3.15pm.
Prize-money – The race is worth £1,100,000, with £623,810 going to the winner.
Course – The race is run at Ascot racecourse.
Race type – Group 1.
Weights –Three-year-olds carry 9st 1lb, horses aged four and older carry 9st 4lb. There is a 3lb weight allowance for fillies and mares.
Ages – The race is open to horses aged three and older.
Sponsor – Qipco have sponsored the race since 2011.
Previous Winners
| wdt_ID | Year | Horse | Form | Age | Price | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2018 | Roaring Lion | 513111 | 3 | 2-1f | John Gosden | Oisin Murphy |
| 3 | 2017 | Persuasive | 112-532 | 4 | 8-1 | John Gosden | Frankie Dettori |
| 4 | 2016 | Minding | 121113 | 3 | 7-4f | Aidan O’Brien | Ryan Moore |
| 5 | 2015 | Solow | 1-11111 | 5 | 11-10f | Freddy Head | Maxime Guyon |
| 6 | 2014 | Charm Spirit | 3-15111 | 3 | 5-1 | Freddy Head | Olivier Peslier |
| 7 | 2013 | Olympic Glory | 11-1022 | 3 | 11-2 | Richard Hannon snr | Richard Hughes |
| 8 | 2012 | Excelebration | 12-1221 | 4 | 10-11f | Aidan O’Brien | Joseph O'Brien |
| 9 | 2011 | Frankel | 11-1111 | 3 | 4-11f | Sir Henry Cecil | Tom Queally |
| 10 | 2010 | Poet’s Voice | 14-8921 | 3 | 9-2 | Saeed bin Suroor | Frankie Dettori |
| 11 | 2009 | Rip Van Winkle | 17-4421 | 3 | 8-13f | Aidan O’Brien | Johnny Murtagh |
Key trials
Three-year-olds may have contested the 1,000 or 2,000 Guineas at the start of the season if they have been kept in the mile category. From there, the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, the Prix Rothschild in France and the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown provide one-mile markers. Horses can drop down from a mile and two furlongs, so the Eclipse, Juddmonte and Irish Champion Stakes can provide winners of the QEII.
What happened last year?
On his final start on British turf, the 2018 Cartier champion three-year-old Roaring Lion was bold and brave when staying on the best to win by a neck from I Can Fly. He had a clear run down the standside but had to dig deep to catch Century Dream, who set and maintained a strong gallop before weakening in the final furlong, eventually finishing third.
Where can I get Champions Day tickets?
Champions Day tickets can be purchased from the Ascot website here.
