Sussex-based training duo Gary and Josh Moore are set to have a big runner on British Champions Day at Ascot this year as they have entered Novus in the Qipco Champion Stakes.Â
Victory in the Group One middle distance contest would be the father and son’s biggest success since they combined on the training licence back in May.
Moore’s Filly Is Already a Group Winner
Novus won the most lucrative prize of her career at Newmarket in October 2023 when she landed the Group Three Newmarket Academy Pride Stakes. She stayed on strongly inside the closing stages of the 1m2f contest to score by two lengths.
The daughter of Dandy Man is 66/1 in the horse racing odds today for the Champion Stakes. It will be her third appearance at Ascot, as she also ran in the Sandringham Stakes at Royal Ascot 2023, while earlier this season, she featured in the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes.
Moore’s filly is likely to be one of the horse racing tips to finish in the placings on British Champions Day as she will be dropping back down to her last winning distance. On her most recent run, she tackled 1m4f at Haydock, but she faded inside the final couple of furlongs in that race.
Champions Stakes Field Set to Include Derby Winner
This year’s Champions Stakes is set to include Derby winner City Of Troy. The Epsom hero prevailed over 1m2f in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on his latest runner, beating older horses in the race.
Irish Champion Trainer Aidan O’Brien has stated that City Of Troy may be one of the best horses he has trained in his career. After winning the Derby and Eclipse, the Ballydoyle colt could retire to stud following his run on British Champions Day.
In what is set to be a star-studded race, Economics may also take on the best 1m2f horses in Europe. William Haggas’ runner won the Dante Stakes at York earlier this season, while on his return to action, he had success in the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano in France.
Haggas has been very patient with his colt this year. The Group One race at Ascot will be his first chance to win a maiden Group One contest and prove he is one of the best horses of his generation.
Moore Team In Good Form at Brighton
The Moore team are familiar with having a lot of success at Brighton, their local racecourse. They sit inside the top five of the top trainer standings at the Sussex venue in the latest campaign. The pair had a winner at the three-day Brighton Festival when Oj Lifestyle came out on top in a 1m handicap.
Gary Moore is approaching his 150th winner at Brighton over the last five years. That milestone is likely to be reached before the final meeting of the year in October. Only Tony Carroll has had more winners than Moore at the racecourse in that period.Â
British Champions Day takes place on Saturday, 18th of October and it is set to mark the final day of the 2024 Flat season.
