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The best of the best take to the Champion Stakes run at Ascot on Saturday.
Frankel ended his great career in this race so who tries to emulate him in the 2024 Champion Stakes (2004m) at Ascot on Saturday?
2024 CHAMPION STAKES - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
The Champion Stakes is a Group 1 race run under Weight For Age conditions for open class horses at Ascot conducted by the Ascot Racecourse.
The Champion Stakes is run over the mile and a quarter. It was first run in 1877 and was won by Springfield.
It was originally run at Newmarket but went to Ascot as part of the newly established British Champions Day as the end of season UK championship race meeting.
In 1971 it was immediately classified as a Group 1.
Only the Derby is richer in terms of prizemoney in Britain.
There are several multiple winners but Tristan won three times starting six years after the race's inauguration.
Only 4 times have three year olds won the Champion Stakes in the last decade.
To finalise his brilliant unbeaten era, Frankel just did enough on a very heavy track to win in 2012 against a top horse in Cirrus Des Aigles who was trying to defend his title.
Baaeed was to end his the same way starting 4s on in 2022 but he was beaten out of the placings in a huge surprise.
After Frankel won his Champion Stakes in 2012, two years on his full brother Noble Mission ended his career exactly the same way.
Cracksman would end his short but brilliant career also with his second win in the race in 2018.
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe runners can start being a fortnight later but it isn't easy coming back in trip. Sealiway was able to do that though in 2021.
Leading trainer is Alec Taylor with eight wins while Danny Maher and Charlie Elliott have six wins each as a jockey.
They ran the 2019 edition on the inside track given how wet the course proper was. It happened again in 2023.
In 2020 Addeybb won on a wet track turning over the previous year's result and getting redemption. He confirmed his G1 wins in Australia six months before and fascinatingly the horse he defeated in the QEII at Randwick (Verry Elleegant) won the Caulfield Cup earlier that same day. He won it again in Australia in 2021.
Frankie Dettori had announced his retirement to end the season then sort of rescinded that in 2023 but in what was his final G1 at Ascot as a UK based rider he won on King Of Steel.
The Champion Stakes was worth £1,300,000 in 2024.
Notable winners of the Champion Stakes include King Of Steel (2023), Sealiway (2021), Addeybb (2020), Magical (2019), Cracksman (2017/2018), Almanzor (2016), Frankel (2012), Cirrus Des Aigles (2011), Twice Over (2009/2010), New Approach (2008), Haffhd (2004), Rakti (2003), Nayef (2001), Alborada (1998/1999), Pilsudski (1997), Bosra Sham (1996), Rodrigo De Triano (1992), Indian Skimmer (1988), Triptych (1986/1987), Palace Music (1984), Brigadier Gerard (1971/1972), Sir Ivor (1968), Dynamiter (1951/1952), Hippius (1940/1941), Wychwood Abbot (1935/1936), Fairway (1928/1929), Orpheus (1920/1921), Lemberg (1910/1911), Bayardo (1909), Pretty Polly (1905), Sceptre (1903), Velasquez (1897/1898), Ormonde (1886) and Tristan (1882/1883/1884).
The 2023 Champion Stakes was won by King Of Steel from Via Sistina and Horizon Dore.
