"When Qirat set a record for the longest-priced victory in a British Group One race with a 150-1 success in the Sussex Stakes in August, it seemed likely to remain unmatched for years if not decades, but instead his tenure as elite British racing's unlikeliest winner lasted only until mid-October and Powerful Glory's 200-1 win in the Champions Sprint. It was the most astonishing result on a day that also saw a 100-1 success for Cicero's Gift in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes,"
"Unlike Qirat's front-running success at Goodwood, where the jockeys on his rivals ignored an apparent pacemaker until it was too late, Powerful Glory came late with a perfectly timed challenge under Jamie Spencer. The noise from the crowd had been building to a crescendo as Lazzat, the 2-1 favourite, hit the front inside the final furlong. After Spencer had edged out Lazzat by a neck, however,"
Calandagan became only the second horse to win both the King George and Champion Stakes in the same season, matching Brigadier Gerard's 1972 achievement. Champions Day at Ascot produced dramatic long-odds victories, including Qirat's 150-1 Sussex Stakes triumph and Powerful Glory's 200-1 Champions Sprint win. Cicero's Gift also prevailed at 100-1 in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. Powerful Glory produced a late, perfectly timed challenge under Jamie Spencer to overhaul favourite Lazzat. The colt had shown poor form earlier in the season but had been unbeaten as a juvenile; trainer Richard Fahey insisted the result had been the year's plan.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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