Adam Williams presents his prediction for the Ascot Qipco Champion Stakes (Group 1, 1m2f, 3yo+) horse racing event.
Economics remains unbeaten this season. In his previous race, he managed to fend off Auguste Rodin, winning by a neck, with his prior victories being even more impressive. The three-year-old son of Night Of Thunder appears to be shaping up as the premier horse for middle distances. With odds of 2.75 on Unibet, he's tipped to claim his fifth consecutive win.
The French contender Calandagan boasts a higher rating than Economics, but his recent run in the International Stakes (Group 1) saw him trail City Of Troy, slightly denting his standing. This year, he's secured three wins out of five starts, including a commanding victory in the King Edward VII Stakes at Ascot, where he finished 6 lengths ahead of Space Legend.
This year's Irish Derby winner, Los Angeles, comes off a third-place finish in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. This race doesn’t afford him much time to recover. Prior to that, he was fourth in the Irish Champion Stakes and before that, he triumphed in the Great Voltigeur Stakes. It's been a demanding schedule of high-profile races marking the end of a strong season.
The seven-year-old gelding Iresine from France will be partnered by the young Mme Marie Velon, who has ridden him in 22 of his 23 starts. Their last outing saw them victorious in the Qatar Prix Foy (Group 2). Throughout his extensive career, the son of Manduro has mostly competed in France, with the exception of last November’s Japan Cup, where he finished ninth.
