All-Star cast for Emirates Airline Champion Stakes The 2004 renewal of the #350,000 Group One Emirates Airline Champion Stakes, Newmarket?s richest race of the year on the Rowley Mile course on Saturday, October 16, has attracted an all-star entry of 63.Heading the entries is last year?s victor Rakti, who was most impressive in defeating Carnival Dancer by two lengths in 2003. This season he put up a tremendous performance to win the Group One Prince of Wales?s Stakes at Royal Ascot but was below par when last seen out in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown Park in July.Godolphin has surprisingly not yet managed to capture the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes but hold a very strong hand this year with eight entries including the brilliant King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes victor Doyen, last year?s UltimateBet.com 2000 Guineas Refuse To Bend, successful this season in the Queen Anne Stakes and Coral-Eclipse, Vodafone Derby runner-up Rule Of Law, UltimateBet.com 1000 Guineas second Sundrop as well as four-time Group One scorer Sulamani.There is a very strong overseas presence with 20 entries hailing from Ireland, six from France, two from Germany and one from Denmark. Aidan O?Brien-trained horses account for 18 of the Irish contingent and include the highly-regarded Ace, unbeaten in three starts and an easy winner of the Group Three Desmond Stakes at Leopardstown on Sunday. The Ballydoyle contenders also include Powerscourt, demoted from first place in last Saturday?s Arlington Million, Irish Derby third Tycoon and Yesterday, the 2003 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine. The strongest of the Irish entries would appear to be John Oxx?s Azamour, third in the UltimateBet.com 2000 Guineas before winning Royal Ascot?s St James?s Palace Stakes and Grey Swallow, one place behind Azamour at Newmarket but subsequently successful in the Budweiser Irish Derby.The unbeaten Bago is the most prominent of the six French trained entries. The Jonathan Pease-trained three-year-old has won all his six starts to date, with three of the victories coming at Group One level. The remaining French-trained entries include four from the Andre Fabre stable - Apsis, Cacique, Diamond Green and Valixir, as well as French 2000 Guineas scorer American Post, trained by Criquette Head-Maarek.Epalo, trained by Andreas Schutz and triumphant in the Group One Singapore Airlines International Cup in May as well as recent Group One Grosser Dallmayr-Preis victor Intendant represent Germany while the Flemming Poulson-trained Dano-Mast, tenth in last year?s Emirates Airline Champion Stakes, is the sole entry from Denmark.Sir Michael Stoute?s trio of entries is headed by last year?s UltimateBet.com 1000 Guineas heroine Russian Rhythm who could be joined by recent Nassau Stakes heroine Favourable Terms and Kalaman, last seen out when taking the Group Two Scottish Derby at Ayr.Mark Johnston has four entries including Lucky Story, who made a pleasing reappearance at Salisbury last week, Group Two Princess of Wales?s cantorodds.com Stakes hero Bandari and the rapidly-improving Mister Monet, who progressed from handicap company to land the Group Three Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock last time out.Other possible stars on show in the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes could include Soviet Song, conqueror of Attraction in the Group One UAE Equestrian & Racing Federation Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket?s July meeting and subsequently successful in Goodwood?s Sussex Stakes while the leading three-year-old filly Ouija Board, heroine of both the Vodafone Oaks and Irish Oaks is another possible. Haafhd, winner of the UltimateBet.com 2000 Guineas at Newmarket earlier this season and James Toller?s Bachelor Duke, victorious in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh are two other leading contenders.Lisa Hancock, Managing Director of Newmarket Racecourses, said: 'The 2004 Emirates Airline Champion Stakes has attracted the cream of Europe?s horses from both the classic and older generation and promises to be a memorable highlight of Champions? Day on Saturday, October 16.'
