The Qipco Champion Stakes as a replacement for Nathaniel for Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
The fact that Nathaniel was not able to participate in Sunday’s Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe was a disappointment for trainer John Gosden as Nathaniel was his actual choice rather than St Leger winner, Masked Marvel.
The absence of the colt was due to the weather back there which was not favourable for the ground conditions that Nathaniel prefers.
Thus, as a due compensation, Nathaniel is one of the 26 entries that went in for the Qipco Champion Stakes, a legendary event which is considered as the richest race ever to be run in Britain.
"I'd have to say that the forecast is not encouraging", Gosden told the Racing Post yesterday.
The horse and his connections are now settled and content as their own stable’s Masked Marvel is covering the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe so it is pretty much still in the house.
The six furlong race is held at Ascot every year in October, open for thoroughbreds aged three years or older.
The 2010 title belongs to Lady of the Desert who was with Richard Hughes and trainer Brian Meehan.
Frankie Dettori remains to be the jockey who has been onboard the winning horse for this event four times already.
Nathaniel has always been ridden by the St Leger two-time winner, jockey William Buick, who has run the horse four times this season out of which three were victories.
The horse broke his maiden at the Haydock on 16th April, right after which he came second at the Chester against A P O’Brien’s Treasure Beach with Ryan Moore onboard, in a field of five horses.
Nathaniel has won the King Edward’s 7 Stakes with Sir Michael Stoute’s Fiorente being the runner-up, A P O’Brien’s Alexander Pope coming third, Roger Varian’s Mijhaar fourth, Mahmood Al Zarooni’s Genius Beast fifth and the race ended with Sir Henry Cecil’s
two entries, Glencadam and World Domination, finishing one after the other.
The most recent race that he has been in and also won is the King George 6 Stakes and Queen Elizabeth Stakes on 23rd July with Sir Michael Stoute’s Workforce second, A P O’Brien’s St Nicholas Abbey third and both entries of Mahmood Al Zarooni,
Debussy and Rewilding, finishing the race in the end, one after the other.
Nathaniel, already, has experienced racing with the most successful horses in the horse racing industry so the race should come with no uncertainties or doubts with Nathaniel putting in all his sincere effort.
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