As the nights draw in and the Autumn leaves fall, the final official act of the flat season takes place this weekend at Ascot, going out in style with Qipco Champions Day.
With five British Champions contests on Saturday’s glittering slate, the cream of the season’s racing comes together.
In the first of two races under the spotlight this weekend, we look to the Qipco Champion Stakes over 1m2f, with Ecomonics 6/4f with Unibet to give both Tom Marquand and William Haggas a repeat from 2020 on Addeybb.
However, with Autumn’s arrival, so too does the softer ground and with the going somewhat questionable, has Calandagan come into the picture?
Ecomonics in demand
Focussing first on the bookies’ pick, it’s now four wins in five for the son of Night of Thunder.
After debuting last November at HQ, the 3yo colt is unbeaten in four this term, including the Dante and last time out taking the Irish Champion Stakes.
Beating Auguste Rodin by a neck at Leopardstown, 2024 has been as impressive a full debut season as there can, and, has been.
Economics 🆚 Calandagan
Who wins? 👇 pic.twitter.com/8vZmsIK8ti
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) October 14, 2024
On paper, it is hard to look past Economics; indeed, to use parlance of his moniker, the colt is supplying the results his demand is bringing.
A note of caution, however.
His last three wins have all come on good ground. Furthermore, if we look at a predicted going for the weekend, the turf could be very tacky and may be closer to heavy going.
Conditions – albeit as a debutant – he could only finish fourth in.
Of course, the same concerns were expressed over City Of Troy and firmly consigned to the scrapheap, but the Champion Stakes feels like a different race. Certainly a more balanced one.
Calandagan challenge
So what of Calandagan’s chances of toppling the favourite? In short, they look appealing.
Gelded after a debut run last August at Deauville, Henri Graffard’s likeable individual has won four of the last six – three of five this term.
It was his victory in the King Edward VII at Royal Ascot that set tongues wagging – not least the soundbites of his trainer – that Calandagan could be on to something good.
A possibility further emphasised in the most spectacular of ways, pushing City Of Troy all the way in the Juddmonte Stakes last time out, runner-up to Aidan O’Brien’s dominator by just a single length.
The 3yo could not make it four wins on the trot – coincidentally the record his rival holds – but his reputation was still gleaming.
In terms market going, Economics is unlikely to sway from the running as the race favourite, but it is worth noting that far, far bigger favourites have failed in this contest.
In particular, only two years ago as 1/4f Baaeed was shocked by 10/1 Bay Bridge, whilst in both 2021 and 2020, Sealiway and Addeybb fetched prices of at least 9/1.
Returning finally to the potential going for Saturday, Calandagan has proven a liking for all ground, but arguably, his best runs have come on heavier decks, winning impressively both at Longchamp and Saint Cloud.
With the ground already soft, the ground could dry somewhat on Thursday, but with rain set to arrive late on Friday into race day, punters are still looking at a heavy ground prognosis.
In summary, yes, Economics is the pick for many, but Calandagan could quite easily and once again, upset the form book.
The 2024 Qipco Champion Stakes takes place at Ascot on Saturday, race time 3:55pm
