The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes

Long recognised as Europe’s mile championship, 1,600 metre races come no bigger than this anywhere on the international stage. With a cool million pounds in prize money, the race now enters a different stratosphere in financial terms, boosted from £250,000 a year ago when it was run at Ascot’s late September meeting. It is now by far the richest mile race in Europe and one of the most valuable in the world.

Named in honour of The Queen in 1955, the race has a roll of honour packed full of stars, including Brigadier Gerard (1971 & 72), Known Fact (1980), Dubai Millennium (1999) and George Washington (2006).

The race holds special memories for Frankie Dettori. It provided him with his first ever Group 1 race victory thanks to Markofdistinction in 1990 and when Mark Of Esteem landed the spoils in 1996, it was the third leg of his “Magnificent Seven” when he won every race on that famous (or infamous if you were a bookmaker) Ascot card.

When Poet’s Voice triumphed last year, it was Frankie’s fifth victory (he also won it on Dubai Millennium in 1999 and Ramonti in 2007), easily the best record of any current jockey in the race. He still has a bit to go to match the man who will be on the BBC TV team covering the race again this year, Willie Carson. He won it 8 times in his illustrious riding career.

Current leading jockey: Frankie Dettori, 5 wins (1990, 1996, 1999, 2007, 2010)

Current leading trainers: Saeed bin Suroor, 5 wins (1996, 1999, 2001, 2007, 2010)