Persion Punch remembered on star-studded Chanpion´s Day Vintage renewals of Emirates Airline Champion Stakes and Darley Dewhurst Stakes in prospectChampions´ Day at Newmarket on Saturday 16th October, the highest class raceday in Britain with six Group Races including two Group Ones and over £1m in prize money, could exceed expectations this year with an array of equine stars bound for the Rowley Mile and a tribute to a departed star.One year on from Persian Punch´s final victory, when the Rowley Mile echoed to an applause probably never before heard on Newmarket Heath, the Jockey Club Cup has been renamed the Persian Punch Jockey Club Cup for one year in tribute to Jeff Smith´s gallant stayer who died of a heart attack earlier this year. That Group Three contest will be run as the sixth race on the seven-race card, following two spectacular Group Ones. In the £350,000 Emirates Airline Champion Stakes, the brilliant St James´s Palace Stakes and Irish Champion Stakes winner, Azamour, is likely to face an eagerly anticipated rematch with the red-hot favourite from the Irish race, Doyen, who put up such a stunning performance to win the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Sakes in July. Other possibles include this year´s Irish Derby winner Grey Swallow, UltimateBet.com 2000 Guineas winner Haafhd, Irish 2000 Guineas winner Bachelor Duke, and two of Mark Johnston´s top three-year-olds, Lucky Story and Mister Monet. In the £250,000 Darley Dewhurst Stakes, most of the season´s top two-year-old colts are set for a memorable showdown, including Sunday´s game Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Oratorio, the unbeaten Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes winner Shamardal, who is currently favourite for next year´s UltimateBet.com 2000 Guineas, the Coventry Stakes winner Iceman, the unbeaten SGB Champagne Stakes winner Etlaala, Royal Lodge winner Perfectperformance, Richmond Stakes winner Montgomery´s Arch and the horse who bustled up Dubawi at Newmarket in July, Henrik. The card also features the Victor Chandler Challenge Stakes (Group Two), the Owen Brown Rockfel Stakes (Group Two), the Rolls Royce Motor Cars London Darley Stakes (Group Three) and one of the season´s most competitive handicaps, the totesport Cesarewitch.'Champions´ Day is going to be spectacular this year and with strong advance sales there should be a big crowd here to enjoy it,' commented Lisa Hancock, Newmarket´s Managing Director. 'It will be a poignant moment when we remember Persian Punch, who holds such a special place in many people´s affections. He won more races at Newmarket than any other course and his two Jockey Club Cup victories were vintage 'Punch' performances. I know that many members of his fan club are coming to Newmarket to pay tribute to him on Champions´ Day.'
