Royal Ascot races added to Breeders' Cup Challenge Series

Royal Ascot will for the first time act as an official feeder for the Breeders’ Cup after the Queen Anne Stakes, Prince Of Wales’s Stakes, Norfolk Stakes and Diamond Jubilee Stakes were added to the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series.

Highland Reel won the Prince Of Wales's Stakes and the Breeders' Cup Turf (PA)

Each of the four races were announced as Win And You’re In Races on Monday for the two-day meeting which this year will be staged at Churchill Downs on November 2-3. All entrants receive fees paid if they run in Kentucky.

The Queen Anne winner gains automatic entry in to the Breeders’ Cup Mile, the Prince Of Wales’s winner will operate in tandem with the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes as a springboard to the Turf, while the Diamond Jubilee winner can aim for the Turf Sprint.

It is the Norfolk Stakes, however, that may carry the greatest interest for European trainers as the new Juvenile Turf Sprint, which was only added to the Breeders’ Cup in February, is yet to be classified with a grade but will be run over 5.5f and will carry a purse of $US 1million (£700,000) - the Group Two Norfolk Stakes carries a purse of just £100,000.

“We’re delighted to be participating in the Breeders’ Cup ‘Win & You’re In’ programme with races from Royal Ascot for the first time,” said Nick Smith, Ascot Director of Racing and Communications.

“These are pivotal race meets in our respective jurisdictions and natural targets for the very best racehorses in the world. It’s particularly pleasing to be involved from the start with the development of the new Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. It’ll provide an excellent new opportunity for European juveniles.

“Recent years have seen numerous Ascot winners successful at the Breeders’ Cup, and it was wonderful to see Tepin perform the feat in reverse in 2015/16.”

Craig Fravel, Breeders’ Cup President and CEO said: “There is nothing quite like the excellence, tradition and prestige of the Royal Ascot meeting, and we are so proud and delighted that the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, Queen Anne, Norfolk and the Diamond Jubilee will be a part of the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Challenge series as we continue to encourage international participation for the World Championships.

“We thank our partners at Ascot for working with us in accomplishing this goal, and look forward to the outs.”