Henrythenavigator Among 142 Entries For Doncaster's Champagne Stakes

Unbeaten juvenile Henrythenavigator, who currently heads the betting for next year's 2,000 Guineas, tops a 142-strong entry for the £100,000 Group Two Champagne Stakes over seven furlongs at Doncaster which has moved to Saturday, September 15.

The bumper entry is far and away the biggest this century, easily topping the 109 two-year-olds entered in 2006, and is 18 more than the 124 entries in 2004. It also marks a massive increase on the 81 two-year-olds engaged in 2000.

The 2001 entry was 107, while the following year had 94, 2003 had 106 and 2005 attracted 88 entries.

One of the top races for two-year-olds in the calendar, the Champagne Stakes returns to its Doncaster home having been run at York last year while Town Moor was being redeveloped.

A vintage 2006 renewal saw subsequent 2,000 Guineas second Vital Equine hold off the late surge of Eagle Mountain, runner-up to Authorized in the Epsom Derby in June, with Cockney Rebel, successful in the English and Irish 2,000 Guineas this season, close up in third.

Henrythenavigator, a son of Kingmambo, followed an easy debut success at Gowran Park over seven furlongs with a three-quarter length victory over Swiss Franc in the Group Two Coventry Stakes over a furlong less at Royal Ascot on June 19, and is one of 20 entries for champion Irish handler Aidan O'Brien.

The master of Ballydoyle also has Lizard Island, who got the better of stable companion South Dakota in the Group Two Railway Stakes at the Curragh on July 1, and Curragh Listed winner Warsaw, while of his unraced battalion, Storm Cat colt Great Rumpuscat is a half-brother to dual Group One-winning filly Rumplestiltskin.

Trainer John Gosden announced after Raven's Pass scooted up in the Listed Kleenex Winkfield Stakes at Ascot on Saturday that the unbeaten Elusive Quality colt will go for the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster. The Newmarket handler has five other entries, Centennial, third to Raven's Pass on his Yarmouth debut, useful maiden Copywriter, and Newmarket debut scorer Legislation plus impressive Newbury maiden winner Legal Eagle and easy Ascot winner Master Chef who both run in the Group Two Richmond Stakes at Goodwood on Friday.

Godolphin has made a nine-strong entry, headed by Rio De Le Plata, who looked a top-class prospect when running away with a seven-furlong maiden at Newmarket on July 11 (and runs today in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood), defeating Fifteen Love by five lengths. World Of Choice, a son of Distorted Humour, has yet to make the racecourse, but is a half-brother to 2005 Group One Racing Post Trophy victor Palace Episode.

Winker Watson, who maintained his 100 per cent record with a remarkable last-to-first success in the Group Two July Stakes at Newmarket on July 12, adding to his victory in the Group Two Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot, is one of seven entries for Peter Chapple-Hyam.

Listed scorers Declaration Of War and Western Art, and Amaakin, a son of Gone West who is as low as 16/1 for year's 2,000 Guineas despite having not yet been seen in public, are other entries for the dual Derby-winning handler.

Maze, trained by Bryan Smart, progressed from his debut win over six furlongs at Newcastle to land the Listed Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot over a furlong further on June 23, edging out newcomer Pegasus Again by a neck, with Feared In Flight, Ramona Chase and Jedediah all close up in behind.

Feared In Flight's trainer, Barry Hills, has a superb record in the Champagne Stakes, having taken the prize on five occasions with Sexton Blake (1977), Sure Blade (1985), Auction House (1998), Distant Music (1999) and Etlaala (2004). He has 11 entries in all this year, including Dark Angel, a good fourth to Winker Watson in the July Stakes last time.

The Tommy Stack-trained Myboycharlie made it two wins from as many starts in the Group Three Anglesey Stakes at the Curragh on July 15, sauntering home by seven lengths.

Also among the 24 Irish-trained entries is Bruges, trained by rookie handler David Myerscough. The Marju colt showed a useful turn of foot to score at Leopardstown in the Listed Golden Fleece Stakes on July 4.

The Sangster Family-owned City Leader, a half-brother to top-class performers Colonel Collins, Commander Collins and Lit De Justice, looked very promising when making a successful debut in a seven-furlong maiden at Ascot on July 27.

His trainer, Brian Meehan, houses another couple of exciting prospects in his stable in the shape of winning debutants Fast Company and Sharp Nephew, and is responsible for eight entries in total.

Paul Cole's five entries include July Stakes runner-up River Proud, Richard Hannon has entered impressive first time out winner Firestreak, owned by The Queen, and Jamie Osborne could run Listed Windsor Castle Stakes hero Drawnfromthepast.

Adam Waterworth, Managing Director Doncaster Racecourse, commented: 'We are delighted with the magnificent entry for the 2007 renewal of the Champagne Stakes, especially with this being the first year we have moved the race to the Saturday in order to further strengthen the Ladbrokes St Leger day card.'

The Ladbrokes St Leger Festival at Doncaster runs from Wednesday, September 12, to Saturday, September 15, inclusive.

Doncaster Racecourse has undergone a #32-million redevelopments and reopens on Friday, August 17.