Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
(sponsored by QIPCO)
Group 1, Ascot 15:25
£1,100,000 guaranteed,
3yo plus,
1m, Class 1   
Saturday 18th October 2025

BetPlay

1 Cicero's Gift 100/1
2 The Lion In Winter 12/1
3 Alakazi 22/1
4 Docklands 14/1
16 ran Distances: 1¼l, nk, hd
Time: 1m 38.35s (fast by 0.55s)

There are shocks, and then there are moments that stop Ascot in its tracks.

Cicero’s Gift, sent off a 100/1 outsider, tore up the form book and crowned himself a Group 1 winner — the second fairytale of an extraordinary Champions Day.

For Charlie Hills, it was a victory that went far deeper than the betting boards. The least-fancied of sixteen, and officially the lowest-rated in the field, Cicero’s Gift hugged the far rail as others searched for a lane. Under Jason Watson, he moved stealthily through the pack, edged to the front passing the furlong pole, and simply refused to be caught. A length and a quarter clear at the line, the disbelief was matched only by the delight.

The Lion In Winter chased him home in second, having also charted the far-side route, while Alakazi ran on stoutly down the middle to deny Docklands for third. The 13/8 favourite, Field Of Gold, travelled into contention but found little when the taps were turned on — left treading water in a finish few could have predicted.

For Hills, the win came at the end of a season threaded with emotion, loss, and quiet resilience:

“Amazing, I am speechless to be honest with you. It has been a really tough year for us at home, but we are a tight family and we’ve stuck strong. The old man would be looking down and would be so chuffed, I’d say. He’d be terribly proud of his family – Michael, Richard, George, we’re a good unit and always try to do the best for each other. I think he’d be over the moon. It is fantastic for Jason, too.

“I have always believed in the horse, but I thought he’d want a bit more cut in the ground than this. The race has worked out perfectly. We thought, ‘oh, there’s been a 200/1 winner already, so that counts us out!’

“The owners are a yard syndicate we set up to try to buy a few horses. We had this race in mind all year. We hoped it would be softer than it was today, but this was his end goal. He is getting better - he was very unsound at one point and had to have a whole year off, but Ian Wright [veterinary surgeon] did a fantastic job with him, and it’s taken a lot of patience. He is very talented, but he hasn’t been the soundest.

“When he won his second race, he beat Docklands giving him nine pounds, and Docklands is a very good horse. We will really look forward to next year. It has been a tough year, but hopefully this will help us spring forward to next year. It is a great meeting, this, every race is top drawer, and just to be part of it makes me very proud.”

For Watson, it was a ride as patient as it was inspired — and a moment that clearly meant everything:

“I am very lucky to be riding this horse today and a massive thank you to connections and to Charlie who has been a big supporter of mine this season. Nicola, who has been at Charlie’s for a long time and rides Cicero’s Gift every day, said he is in the best form of his whole life – so credit to her and the team at home.

“You don’t expect this to be happening to you! I thought the luck of the day had struck out when the 200/1 winner came in earlier. It means a lot. You need a lot of support. My mum and dad have been good supporters of mine over the years. I didn’t grow up in this industry. It was really difficult for me when I was younger to have the success that I did and then lose it pretty quick. I have been trying to build on it the last few years to get back to the position I know that I’m capable of and I hope today I’ve proved to some people that I’m as good as I used to be.

“I had a job [with Roger Charlton] at a young age, and people kept on saying that I was very young at the time and probably couldn’t handle the job. That always struck a chord with me because I felt that, in my first year with Charlton as a professional, we had a very good year. We had Group Ones together, and the way the season ended – it was to do with my age, I think, and my maturity at the time, being a bit naive to the sport. But I always felt I should be in the game at a very high level, and that’s what I try to prove.”

Across the track, Christophe Soumillon was quick to salute his mount’s effort:

“He jumped out the gates really well, I was travelling very easily all the race, and he quickened up very well.”

And there was pride too from Johnny Murtagh, whose Alakazi continues to climb the ladder:

“Very happy with his run. I am delighted. He had a good spot all the way, it looked like when he came out that he was going to get there – I’m so proud of him. He ran great and it’s another step up from his run in the Group Two. I believe he is a Group One horse and I think he showed that today.”

His jockey Ben Coen echoed that optimism:

“Really happy with him. He jumped and travelled, quickened up – I thought I was going to be bang there. It was a big run and he’s an improving horse, so looking forward to next year.”

As Cicero’s Gift came back to a stunned Ascot grandstand, cheers mingled with disbelief.

In a season already touched by the improbable, the chestnut colt had delivered another reminder that on Champions Day, reputations count for less than rhythm, timing, and faith.

And if Richard Hoiles had been calling it home, you can almost hear his cadence rise:

“Cicero’s Gift down the far side — still finding more! The longshot leads, the favourite’s gone — and it’s the outsider who conquers them all!”

BoyleSports

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
Sponsored By Qipco (British Champions Mile) (Group 1) (Str)
£1,100,000 guaranteed, 3yo plus, 1m, Class 1
16 ran
Going: Good

POS. (DRAW) FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (1)    Cicero's Gift 5 9-6 Charles Hills Jason Watson 100/1
2 (2) 1¼ The Lion In Winter 3 9-3 A P O'Brien Christophe Soumillon 12/1
3 (7) nk Alakazi 3 9-3 J P Murtagh Ben Coen 22/1
4 (12) hd Docklands 5 9-6 Harry Eustace Tom Marquand 14/1
5 (14) 1 Field Of Gold 3 9-3 John & Thady Gosden Colin Keane 13/8F
6 (15) ¾ Rosallion 4 9-6 Richard Hannon Sean Levey 4/1
7 (13) 1¼ Never So Brave 4 9-6 Andrew Balding Oisin Murphy 6/1
8 (9) 1 Tamfana 4 9-3 David Menuisier Rossa Ryan 50/1
9 (11) nk Facteur Cheval 1 6 9-6 J Reynier Mickael Barzalona 25/1
10 (8) 2½ Fallen Angel 4 9-3 K R Burke James Doyle 8/1
11 (3) 1 Exactly 3 9-0 A P O'Brien Wayne Lordan 100/1
12 (5) hd Carl Spackler 5 9-6 John & Thady Gosden William Buick 12/1
13 (16) nse Dancing Gemini 4 9-6 Roger Teal Kieran Shoemark 33/1
14 (6) ½ Marvelman 3 9-3 Andrew Balding P J McDonald 40/1
15 (10) ¾ Quddwah 5 9-6 Simon & Ed Crisford Silvestre De Sousa 50/1
16 (4) 1¼ January 3 9-0 A P O'Brien W J Lee 50/1