British Champions Series officials hope there will be four Group One prizes on Champions Day next year.
The brilliant display of the mighty Frankel in Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth II Stakes was the undoubted highlight while Cirrus Des Aigles landed the other Group One contest on the card, the Champion Stakes.
Having surpassed the required average rating of 110 for three consecutive years, the newly-named British Champions Fillies’ And Mares’ now meets the criteria to be considered by the European Pattern Committee for elevation to the top level.
An application is also likely to be made to upgrade the Group Two British Champions Sprint won by Deacon Blues.
“Yesterday exceeded our wildest expectations for the inaugural Qipco British Champions Day with such high-class fields, absolute top-class winners and a record autumn Flat crowd for the modern era,” British Champions Series chief executive Rod Street said.
“There is a great deal for us to review over the coming weeks, but one obvious thing we would like to improve is the official status of the two Group Two races and one Group Three on the card.
“Clearly we would like to have five Group Ones and after yesterday I don’t think anyone could say that the day does not merit that.”
“Having had what are arguably the top two stayers in the world finish first and second (in the Champion Stakes), the same one-two from the Group One Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, we will have comfortably achieved the requisite rating for the race this year.”
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