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Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes were introduced into the British racing calendar in 1955, partly to honour the monarch and partly to replace a previous event called the Knights Royal Stakes, which had been run since 1947.
The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes are run over a distance of one mile and traditionally takes place in late September at Ascot Racecourse, on the same day as the Fillies' Mile. There have been a few changes to the race over the years. In 1971, when the Horse Racing Authority developed the system of ratings and classifications, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes were classed as a race of Group 2 level; a decision to be revised in 1987 when the race was promoted to Group 1 status. It was also one of the last races to accept or receive corporate sponsorship. After a brief period of being backed by NetJets and later Barclays, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes are now sponsored by Sony. Since 2008 the race is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge, granting the winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes an automatic entry into the Breeders' Cup Mile in the same year.
Because of the extraordinary contenders starting in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, the race is hailed as Europe's Top Mile; meaning the winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes will be crowned the Top Miler in Europe. This huge honour at stake seems to have given wings not only to the ambitions of up-and-coming trainers and jockeys but also to the horses fighting it out on the track. The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes record some of the fastest times for one mile races every season. The event still attracts entries belonging to foreign royalty, with the latest success being the win of Raven's Pass owned by Princess Haya of Jordan in 2008.
Recent Winners of the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes:
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Time |
2010 |
Poet's Voice |
Frankie Dettori |
Saeed bin Suroor |
1:39.76 |
2009 |
Rip Van Winkle |
Johnny Murtagh |
Aidan O'Brien |
1:38.82 |
2008 |
Raven's Pass |
Jimmy Fortune |
John Gosden |
1:38.94 |
2007 |
Ramonti |
Frankie Dettori |
Saeed Bin Suroor |
1:42.45 |
2006 |
George Washington |
Michael Kinane |
Aidan O'Brien |
1:40.06 |
2005 |
Starcraft |
Christophe Lemaire |
Luca Cumani |
1:37.87 |
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Odds and News
28 Oct 2012: Fame and Glory and Excelebration Heading for Breeders Cup Swansong
Aidan O’Brien-trained duo Fame and Glory and Excelebration are expected to contest the final races of their career at the Breeders Cup meeting in the United States on the weekend of the second of November.
O’Brien entered Fame and Glory for the Breeder Cups Marathon surprising some experts who believed the Montjeu stallion was well past his best after disappointing efforts at his last three starts.
The leading trainer is confident the six-year-old can still perform at the highest level but will add headgear to keep his mind of the job at hand.
“He’s got a bit clever so we’ll probably run him in a visor,” O’Brien said.
“He’s a little bit older and wiser now and when the going gets tough he’s very happy to curl up and not try very hard.”
Fame and Glory has never raced in the United States before and will be making his debut on a dirt surface.
“The dirt will be the interesting part and its unknown,” he said
“It’s a bit of an experiment but we’re hoping that he’ll run well and it’s very possible that this will be his last race.”
Fame and Glory is currently equal favourite in the Breeders Cup Marathon betting market at 
Bet365 and is priced at odds of 4/1.
Excelebration confirmed himself as the world’s best miler by easily winning the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Saturday and O’Brien expects him to enhance his reputation even further in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
“He has got stronger and quicker and he’s an exciting horse,” O’Brien said.
“He has top form on any ground and I don’t think ground is important to him.”
Excelebration is available at odds of 5/2 in the Breeders Cup Mile betting market at Bet365.
You can find the best odds for all races during Breeders Cup weekend at Bet365.
20 Oct 2012: 2012 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Betting Preview
16 Oct 2012: Hughes Scores Seven-Timer
10 Oct 2012: Frankel to have Final Career Start in Champion Stakes
