Yes, there’s two more Breeders’ Cup challenge series “Win and You’re In’’ races. At Ascot. On Saturday.
No, there’s nary a chance either winner heads to the United States for the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar on Nov. 1-2, even with an all-fees paid automatic berth.
Economics (8), ridden by Tom Marquand, wins the Royal Bahrain Irish Champions Stakes during the Irish Champions Festival at Leopardstown Racecourse in Leopardstown, Dublin, Ireland photo by Scott Serio/Eclipse Sportswire/CSM
Nonetheless, the 1 ¼-mile British Champion Stakes (G1) and the 1 ½-mile British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (G1), are worth checking out as the British flat racing season comes to an end.
Economics, unbeaten in four starts in 2024, is the 6-5 favorite over Calandagan (7-5) in the $1.6 million British Champion Stakes, which drew a field of 12, including longshot fillies See The Fire (60-1) and Novus (99-1).
Trained by William Haggas, the 3-year-old Economics opened the year with a victory in Maiden Stakes at Newbury in April, and most recently defeated Auguste Rodin in the Irish Champion Stakes (G1) last month, a race in which he earned his berth in the BC Turf (G1).
“As long as he can stay well and run to his best, I think he is sure to run a good race,’’ Haggas said, “He battled well in Ireland and was tactically good. He fought hard when he had to in a top-class race, and I was pleased he won a Group 1 as that makes things a lot easier.”
Economics will be ridden by Tom Marquand, leaving from post 8.
France-bred Calandagan’s last two races have come in England – the 3-year-old gelding won the King Edward VII Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot by six lengths and ran second behind highly-regarded City of Troy in the Juddmonte Stakes (G1) at York.
Others to consider: Aidan O’Brien-trained 6-1 shot Los Angeles (Irish Derby winner), a solid third behind Bluestocking in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) at Longchamp on Oct. 6; and 7-year-old gelding Iresine (Grade 2 Prix Foy winner on Sept. 15) at 15-1.
Kalpana favored in Fillies & Mares Stakes
In the $650,000 Fillies & Mares Stakes, 3-year-old Juddmonte’s Kalpana, winner of the September Stakes (G3) at Kempton, is the 5-2 favorite for trainer Andrew Balding. William Buick has the mount.
Juddmonte also sends out 10-1 Time Lock, a 5-year-old daughter of Frankel who finished fifth in this race last year but comes into this edition off a five-length win at Newmarket.
Content, trained by O’Brien, already earned a berth in the BC Filly & Mare Turf (G1) with her win in the Yorkshire Oaks (G1) in August. The 3-year-old daughter of Galileo is 6-1 with Ryan Moore in the irons.
Breeders’ Cup pre-entries are Oct. 21, two days after the races at Ascot.
For those who bet horse racing …
The picks for the British Champion Stakes: 1 King’s Gambit 2 Los Angeles 3 Economics