The Race History of the 2018 British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot on Saturday shows it has gone to many and varied stables.
Simple Verse was in the middle of a great run of form as the 3yo in 2015. We’ll be looking for another top girl in the 2018 British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (2405m) at Ascot on Saturday.
2018 BRITISH CHAMPIONS FILLIES & MARES STAKES - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
The British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes is a Group 1 race run under Weight For Age conditions for fillies and mares at Ascot conducted by the Ascot Racecourse.
The British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes is run over a mile and a half. It was first run in 1946 and was won by Mehmany.
It is run as a feature on the newly Ascot established British Champions Day as the end of season UK championship race meeting.
This was originally known as the Princess Royal Stakes (after Princess Mary at the time).
In 1971 it was classified as a Group 3 and then in 2008 moved to Newmarket, was called the Pride Stakes and became a Group 2. When back to Ascot on Champions day, it was given the title British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes and elevated to Group 1 in 2011.
The only multiple winners are Shebeen and Crystal Capella.
In the last decade the fillies have won six to the mares four.
Leading trainer is John Dunlop with nine victories over a forty year period. Most wins as a jockey is by Lester Piggott with eight.
The British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes is worth £600,000 in 2018.
Notable winners of the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes include Simple Verse (2015), Dancing Rain (2011), Crystal Capella (2008/2010), Ouija Board (2005), Snow Bride (1989), Shebeen (1974/1975) and Attica Meli (1972).
The 2017 British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes was won by Hydrangea from Bateel and Coronet.