Palace Pier heads all-star cast on course for QEII showdown on Champions Day

The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes could develop into one of the races of the season after a top-class list of entries, including Palace Pier, Kameko, Siskin and Pinatubo were revealed on Tuesday for the season-ending showdown on Qipco British Champions Day.

Connections of Palace Pier and Kameko have already made clear their intention to target the £650,000 Group 1 on October 17, setting up a clash between the two best three-year-old milers in Britain this season.

Palace Pier was an impressive winner of the Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville last time and trainer John Gosden is relishing the prospect of bidding for his fifth win in the race run over Ascot's straight mile.

Gosden said: "Palace Pier will go straight to Ascot for the Queen Elizabeth II. He took his race at Deauville well, and he's been in good order since. I don’t think the ground there was ideal for him, but he coped with it."

The son of Kingman is the general 10-11 favourite to secure a third Group 1, heading Siskin, Circus Maximus and Kameko, who all sit between 7-1 and 10-1 with bookmakers.

Kimeko: 2,000 Guineas winner on course for AscotCredit: Edward Whitaker

Kameko has not returned to the winner's enclosure since triumphing in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket and will return to a mile after failing to fire in the Juddmonte International at York last month.

Trainer Andrew Balding, who indicated the son of Kitten's Joy could race on as a four-year-old, said the season had turned into a frustrating one, but he believes Kameko can return to his Classic-winning best.

"Kameko will go straight to Ascot and then I think the intention is to keep him in training next year," Balding said. "I don’t think he’s achieved what he’s capable of achieving yet.

"We've played the hand that was dealt to us though, and I don’t think any of us have any regrets. He didn’t get home behind Ghaiyyath in the Juddmonte International, but he looked very good again up to a point.

"That was in probably the best race run in the world all year and on ground that was probably a little slower than ideal. He’s just the most fantastic horse to train.”

The best of Britain could be joined by the best of Ireland, with Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Siskin a possible following his third behind the now-retired Mohaather in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

Connections are mulling multiple options for the two-time Group 1 winner, who gave Lyons and jockey Colin Keane their first Classic success at the Curragh in June.

Colin Keane celebrates abaord Siskin after their Irish 1,000 Guineas successCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Lyons said: "Siskin has never been beaten by a horse of his own age and is the best three-year-old miler as far as I’m concerned. He has options in the Prix de la Foret in France, the Boomerang on Irish Champions Day and of course at Ascot."

Group 1 winners Pinatubo and Circus Maximus and improving pair Century Dream and impressive City of York Stakes winner Safe Voyage could also take their chance.

The 42 entries for the 1m2f Champion Stakes are headed by Godolphin superstar Ghaiyyath, who was confirmed the top-rated horse in the world following his dominant success in the Juddmonte International.

Trainer Charlie Appleby said no decision had been made regarding the next target for Ghaiyyath, with the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Irish Champion Stakes and Champion Stakes all still firmly in calculations.

Mishriff: Prix du Jockey Club winner set for Champion StakesCredit: Scoop Dyga / France Galop

One who is certain to line up at Ascot is the Gosden-trained three-year-old Mishriff, who has enjoyed a productive campaign headlined by victory in Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly.

Gosden said: "We debated about where to go with him next, but he’s been very happy at a mile and a quarter and we see that as his trip, so the Champion Stakes looks the race for him."

The Champions Sprint over six furlongs could be the target for July Cup winner Oxted after Roger Teal's stable star was withdrawn from Saturday's Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock.

Golden Horde, who would return to the site of his Commonwealth Cup victory at Royal Ascot, is also included in the 35 entries for the Group 1.

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