Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is a Group 1 race run under Weight For Age conditions for open class horses at Ascot conducted by the Ascot Racecourse.
The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is run over the straight mile. As this race, it was first run in 1955 and was won by Hafiz.
From inception it was known as the Knights' Royal Stakes in 1947 but was renamed after the new Queen who was coronated a few years earlier.
It is run as a feature on the newly Ascot established British Champions Day as the end of season UK championship race meeting.
In 1971 it was classified as a Group 2 but later upgraded to a Group 1 in 1987.
Frankie Dettori loves this race. It gave him with his first ever Group 1 victory with Markofdistinction in 1990 and when Mark Of Esteem got up in 1996, it was the third leg of his "Magnificent Seven". On that card he won every race on the Ascot program.
The only multiple winners are Brigadier Gerard and Rose Bowl.
Since 2006, 13 x three year olds have won.
Frankel ended his 3yo season beating a top field easily in 2011. Excelebration was vanquished there but came back a year later to win it.
In a quite fantastic performance, Horse Of The Year Roaring Lion dropped in ground to run at the mile and finished strongly to take it out leaving stable mate Cracksman to win the Champion Stakes.
Baaeed showed his incredible talents winning a great QE over Palace Pier and would continue that on as a 4yo winning more G1 miles.
Leading trainer is Saeed bin Suroor with five wins while Willie Carson has tasted success on eight occasions.
The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes was worth £1,100,000 in 2023.
Notable winners of the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes include Big Rock (2023), Baaeed (2021), Roaring Lion (2018), Minding (2016), Solow (2015), Excelebration (2012), Frankel (2011), George Washington (2006), Starcraft (2005), Rakti (2004), Falbrav (2003), Dubai Millenium (1999), Mark Of Esteem (1996), Warning (1988), Shadeed (1985), Kris (1979), Rose Bowl (1975/1976), Brigadier Gerard (1971/1972), Reform (1967), Hill Rise (1966) and Hafiz (1955).
The 2023 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes was won by Big Rock from Facteur Cheval and Tahiyra.