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.
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 Breeders' Cup 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.
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 Breeders' Cup 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.
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