Ka Ying Rising on Ascot target list after successful Champions Day featuring biggest crowd since Frankel’s farewell

Ka Ying Rising: on the target list for Royal Ascot 2026Credit: Jeremy Ng (Getty Images)

A royal meeting appearance from superstar sprinter Ka Ying Rising is top of Ascot's wish list for 2026 after a successful Champions Day closed out the track's 2025 Flat season on Saturday.

Calandagan's win in an outstanding Qipco Champion Stakes was the highlight as the meeting attracted its second largest crowd after Frankel's farewell in 2012.

Ascot's director of racing Nick Smith hopes the Champion Stakes will be recognised as Europe's best race in 2025, with top-class horses like Ombudsman and Delacroix also involved, while looking ahead he hopes to encourage the world's best sprinter to appear in Britain next year.

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James StevensWest Country correspondent

Published on 20 October 2025inBritain

Last updated 19:18, 20 October 2025

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