Group One Champions Sprint Stakes Guide 2023

Alex Dudley | @@Alex_Dudz_

Ascot - October 20 2023
Ascot 12:50
1(1)
David Allan

Art Power

J: David Allan
T: Tim Easterby
N/A
Age: 6
Weight: 9-4
OR: 114
Days: 20

Tim Easterby’s runner in the Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot is Art Power, who will be the ride of David Allan. The six-year-old steps back up in trip this weekend after finishing 17th of 18 in the G1 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp on his previous start.

Art Power is winless on his six previous starts over course and distance.

Ascot - October 20 2023
Ascot 12:50
2(8)
Frankie Dettori

Kinross

J: Frankie Dettori
T: Ralph Beckett
N/A
Age: 6
Weight: 9-4
OR: 118
Days: 20

Frankie Dettori takes the ride on Kinross this weekend for Ralph Beckett. The six-year-old is likely to be a short-price favourite after impressing when winning this race 12 months ago. He was a close second in the G1 Prix de la Foret on his previous start over seven furlongs, but has won two from five this term.

Drops back in trip for the first time since July on Saturday, with his last appearance over six furlongs coming when third in the G1 July Cup Stakes.

Ascot - October 20 2023
Ascot 12:50
3(6)
Ryan Moore

Rohaan

J: Ryan Moore
T: David Evans
N/A
Age: 5
Weight: 9-4
OR: 105
Days: 15

David Evans-trained Rohaan will be the ride of Ryan Moore this weekend. The five-year-old was an impressive winner over course and distance earlier this month, as he held off English Oak to win the Iron Stand Handicap by a neck.

He has won just three from 20 starts in stakes company, and the jump back into graded company could be a concern this weekend.

Ascot - October 20 2023
Ascot 12:50
4(5)
Trevor Whelan

Run To Freedom

J: Trevor Whelan
T: Henry Candy
N/A
Age: 5
Weight: 9-4
OR: 116
Days: 42

Run To Freedom will be the ride of Trevor Whelan on Saturday for trainer Henry Candy. The five-year-old made his return to the track after a 56-day break when eleventh of 16 in the G1 Sprint Cup Stakes at Haydock in September.

He was ninth in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes over course and distance in June.

Ascot - October 20 2023
Ascot 12:50
5(11)
Hollie Doyle

Saint Lawrence

J: Hollie Doyle
T: Archie Watson
N/A
Age: 5
Weight: 9-4
OR: 109
Days: 42

Hollie Doyle and Archie Watson join forces with Saint Lawrence this weekend. The five-year-old was last seen finishing ninth of 16 in the G1 Sprint Cup Stakes.

However, he was an impressive winner over course and distance in a big field when beating Apollo One in the Wokingham Stakes in June. This requires a step up, but he boasts form on very testing ground.

Ascot - October 20 2023
Ascot 12:50
6(9)
Clifford Lee

Spycatcher

J: Clifford Lee
T: K R Burke
N/A
Age: 5
Weight: 9-4
OR: 110
Days: 35

Clifford Lee takes the ride on Spycatcher for trainer Karl Burke this weekend. The five-year-old was last seen over seven furlongs when third of five in the G2 Park Stakes.

The ground shouldn’t be an issue this weekend, as he won over six furlongs on soft in France in early July, and was second on very soft ground in the G1 Maurice de Gheest in August.

Ascot - October 20 2023
Ascot 12:50
7(14)
William Buick

Mill Stream

J: William Buick
T: Jane Chapple-Hyam
N/A
Age: 3
Weight: 9-3
OR: 111
Days: 42

William Buick will be on board Mill Stream for Jane Chapple-Hyam this weekend. The three-year-old is proven on testing ground, having won back-to-back races in France on soft and very soft ground.

The latest of those came over six furlongs, as Mill Stream beat Garrus by nearly two lengths in the G3 Prix de Meautry. Further rain before Saturday won’t be an issue for this runner.

Ascot - October 20 2023
Ascot 12:50
8(12)
Paul Mulrennan

Makarova

J: Paul Mulrennan
T: Ed Walker
N/A
Age: 4
Weight: 9-1
OR: 107
Days: 20

Ed Walker’s runner in the race this weekend is Makarova. The four-year-old will be the ride of Paul Mulrennan.

The filly was last seen when sixth of 18 in the G1 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp, finishing just under two lengths behind Highfield Princess. However, the ground would be a massive concern this weekend.

Ascot - October 20 2023
Ascot 12:50
9(15)
Oisin Murphy

Sandrine

J: Oisin Murphy
T: Andrew Balding
N/A
Age: 4
Weight: 9-1
OR: 113
Days: 35

Oisin Murphy takes the ride on Sandrine this weekend. The four-year-old looked back to her best when landing the G2 Park Stakes at Doncaster on soft ground over seven furlongs last month.

She’s back down to six furlongs this weekend for the first time since finishing 14th of 16 over course and distance in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.

Ascot - October 20 2023
Ascot 12:50
10(10)
Tom Marquand

Sense Of Duty

J: Tom Marquand
T: William Haggas
N/A
Age: 4
Weight: 9-1
OR: 108
Days: 28

Sense Of Duty is the William Haggas runner this weekend. The filly returned from a 455-day break last month, finishing a respectable third of five on heavy ground at Haydock over five furlongs.

She remains of huge interest after winning four from five starts over six furlongs between August 2021 and June 2022.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
21/10/23ASC6Sft9-110
23/09/23NBY5Hy9-03
25/06/22NCS6St/Slw8-91
20/05/22HAY6Gd8-101
28/04/22RED6GF9-31
Ascot - October 20 2023
Ascot 12:50
11(2)
Kieran Shoemark

Vadream

J: Kieran Shoemark
T: Charlie Fellowes
N/A
Age: 5
Weight: 9-1
OR: 107
Days: 14

Vadream is the Charlie Fellowes runner this weekend, with Kieran Shoemark taking the ride. The five-year-old returned to the track after an 84-day break in early October when finishing fifth of ten in the G3 Bengough Stakes.

She has strong form on soft ground, winning the G3 Palace House Stakes over five furlongs at Newmarket in early May.

Ascot - October 20 2023
Ascot 12:50
12(4)
Daniel Tudhope

Believing

J: Daniel Tudhope
T: George Boughey
N/A
Age: 3
Weight: 9-0
OR: 109
Days: 42

Believing is the runner for George Boughey this weekend. The three-year-old will be the ride of Daniel Tudhope and she was last seen finishing a very respectable third in the G1 Sprint Cup Stakes at Haydock.

The ground shouldn’t be an issue this weekend, as she landed a win over six furlongs on soft at Chantilly in May.

Ascot - October 20 2023
Ascot 12:50
13(7)
Rossa Ryan

Magical Sunset

J: Rossa Ryan
T: Dominic Ffrench Davis
N/A
Age: 3
Weight: 9-0
OR: 107
Days: 34

Rossa Ryan’s ride in the race this weekend is Magical Sunset. The three-year-old will be making her stable debut for Dominic Ffrench Davis this weekend after finishing last of ten over seven furlongs in the G3 Sceptre Fillies’ Stakes last month.

Improvement will be needed on her return to six furlongs.

Ascot - October 20 2023
Ascot 12:50
14(13)
Shane Foley

Ocean Quest

J: Shane Foley
T: Mrs John Harrington
N/A
Age: 3
Weight: 9-0
OR: 107
Days: 27

John Harrington’s runner in the race this weekend is Ocean Quest, who will be the ride of Shane Foley. The three-year-old was last seen finishing fourth of nine in the G3 Renaissance Stakes at the Curragh.

She has won twice from six starts in stakes company, with the latest of those coming at Naas over six furlongs in August. This requires much more.

Ascot - October 20 2023
Ascot 12:50
15(3)
Sam James

Swingalong

J: Sam James
T: K R Burke
N/A
Age: 3
Weight: 9-0
OR: 107
Days: 42

Sam James takes the ride on Karl Burke-trained Swingalong this weekend. The three-year-old returned from a break to finish fourth in the G1 Sprint Cup Stakes.

However, she remains of interest this weekend after finishing just two lengths behind Shaquille when third over course and distance in the G1 Commonwealth Cup. However, the ground poses questions.