About the race
The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is run over Ascot’s straight mile (1,600 metres) on British Champions Day in October, and is open to three-year-olds and upwards. According to Wikipedia it was established in 1955, became a Group 1 race in 1987 and moved to October as part of British Champions Day in 2011. For 2026 it is sponsored by Qatar Racing, which succeeded its parent company QIPCO as title sponsor of the day, and is worth £1.1 million. The 2026 running is scheduled for Saturday 17 October.
The 2025 running on 18 October was won by Cicero’s Gift, ridden by Jason Watson and trained by Charles Hills for Rosehill Racing, with The Lion In Winter second and Alakazi third. The IFHA ranked it joint 60th among the world’s Group 1 races for 2025, with a race rating of 117.25.
The 2025 running
| Date | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 October 2025 | Cicero's Gift | Jason Watson | Charles Hills | Rosehill Racing |
From the official result.
Recognition and facts
- Race day
- Qatar Racing British Champions Day, Saturday 17 October 2026, 3.20pm
- Course
- Ascot's straight mile
- Raceday owner
- British Champions Series Ltd; The Jockey Club is the majority shareholder
- 2026 early closing entries
- 36 (published 4 August 2026)
Questions readers ask
When is the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes run?
On British Champions Day at Ascot in October. The 2026 running is scheduled for Saturday 17 October 2026 at 3.20pm.
What is the prize fund of the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes?
£1.1 million for the 2026 running, according to British Champions Day.
Who won the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in 2025?
Cicero's Gift, ridden by Jason Watson and trained by Charles Hills for Rosehill Racing, won on 18 October 2025.
Sources
The rank and rating are from the IFHA's LONGINES World's Top 100 Group/Grade 1 Races 2025, published 21 January 2026, which ranks races by the ratings of their first four finishers. Other facts are from the pages listed below.
- IFHA: LONGINES World's Top 100 Group/Grade 1 Races 2025 (published 21 January 2026)
- Race Information, British Champions Day
- Past results: The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes 2025, British Champions Day
- QIPCO extends British Champions Day sponsorship to 2028, Ascot Racecourse
- Qatar Racing to become title sponsor of British Champions Day, Ascot Racecourse
- Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, Wikipedia