Champions Day 2022: The end of the British flat season

Racing Breaks
Oct 19, 2022
2 min read

Updated: May 10, 2023

Champions Long Distance Cup

It would've been a topical winner, should Andrew Balding's Coltrane have pulled through. The 1m7f slog, however, went the way of Trueshan, in a well-deserved win for Alan King and Hollie Doyle. It was Trueshan's third consecutive success in this race, and it follows triumph in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle, where he was under an astonishing 148 pounds. Ebor-winning Trawlerman came home third, while this year's St Leger winner, Eldar Eldarov, could only get seventh.

Champions Sprint Stakes

A win for our ambassador, Frankie Dettori. It came just two week's after riding Kinross to victory in the Prix de la Forêt at Paris Longchamp. Aidan O'Brien-trained Tenebrism, who landed the Prix Jean-Prat, made fifth, while the winner of this year's Commonwealth Cup, Perfect Power, landed seventh. Last year's winner, Creative Force, got third, while Platinum Jubilee winner, Naval Crown, arrived home twelfth.

Champions Fillies and Mares

Another win for our ambassador, Frankie Dettori, as he brought home Emily Upjohn in the colours of Lord Lloyd-Webber. The filly captured attention in the Musidora at York's Dante Festival. After a second in the Oaks at Epsom, she couldn't make her place in the Irish version due to travel issues. Last year's Melbourne Cup winner, Verry Elleegant, could only manage ninth, while a daughter of Sea the Stars, Sea La Rosa, landed tenth.

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes

After a double for our ambassador, Inspiral (his ride in this race), lost ground in a slow start. The winner of last year's Del Mar Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf, Modern Games (who landed this year's Prix d'Essai des Poulains in Paris, then another American victory), did well to grab second. Victory, however, went to Tom Marquand, aboard Roger Varian-trained Bayside Boy.

Champions Stakes

In the day's culmination, we awaited a much-hoped-for send-off to Baaeed, the then unbeaten champion. Owned by Sheika Hissa, and trained by William Haggas, he was ridden, as usual, by our ambassador, Jim Crowley. Alas, victory was not to come, and testing ground meant he could reach just fourth place. Indeed, it wasn't even his joint favourite, Adayar (winner of the 2021 Derby and King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes), who could get there. Rather, the 2022 Derby-winning partnership of Sir Michael Stoute and Richard Kingscote were victorious with Bay Bridge, winner of Sandown's Brigadier Gerard.

Champion Jockey / Champion Apprentice Jockey

Before racing started, it was time to crown this year's Champion Jockey (William Buick) and Champion Apprentice Jockey (Benoit de la Sayette). Champions Day at Ascot is the culmination of the QIPCO British Champions Series, and many races in the series take place at Royal Ascot in June. We hope to see you at that Royal meeting next year... if not, perhaps we'll see you later on, at Champions Day 2023.