Soumillon booked for Calandagan and Rayif

Christophe Soumillon takes both Aga Khan rides on Qatar Racing British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday, 17 October.

Calandagan, winner of the Champion Stakes in 2025, defends that prize. Rayif, a dual Group 1 winner over a mile, goes in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

The rides were open because Mickael Barzalona, the retained jockey, misses the card. He picked up a two-day whip ban when winning the Prix de Royallieu on Fairy Glen at ParisLongchamp last weekend.

Soumillon is no stranger to the silks. He was retained for the Aga Khan Studs from 2002 to 2009 and again from 2014 to 2022, before Barzalona was appointed.

Calandagan, last year’s Longines World’s Best Racehorse, is a general 7-2 to keep the Champion Stakes. Rayif, successful this season in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains and the Prix Jacques le Marois, is 4-1 for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes as he tries for a third Group 1 of the year.