The Revenant lands Queen Elizabeth II Stakes

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The Revenant (GB), second in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes sponsored by QIPCO on QIPCO British Champions Day 12 months ago, went one better on Saturday afternoon, with the British-born gelding getting the better of Roseman by a nose in a pulsating final furlong duel.

The five-year-old gelding is a son of the outstanding Dubawi, the most successful stallion to stand stud in Britain in the history of the Pattern. He is the 44th individual Group 1 winner sired by the 18-year-old who is the standard-bearer for Darley at their Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket.

Palace Pier, the 8-11 favourite, was only third, three and a quarter lengths away, as John Gosden's dual Group One winner was beaten for the first time in six starts. He also lost a shoe in the race.

Trained in France by Francis-Henri Graffard for owner-breeder Al Asayl Bloodstock Limited, and ridden by Pierre-Charles Boudot, the chestnut gelding has never been outside the first three in his 13 career starts.

The Revenant began his racing career in Britain, winning on debut at Haydock Park Racecourse for Hugo Palmer and Pat Cosgrave, and returned to Britain for the 2019 QIPCO British Champions Day as the winner of eight races including the Group 2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein, and was second in his first attempt at a Group 1.

A year later, and with a second Group 2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein success to his name, The Revenant was back in Britain and in no mood to brook defeat in the Group 1 contest over one mile.

The gelding is out of Hazel Laverey, a daughter of Excellent Art (GB) who was trained in Lambourn by Charlie Hills and won the Group 3 St Simon Stakes at Newbury Racecourse and the Listed Aphrodite Stakes at Newmarket Racecourses’ July Course.

Excellent Art extended Pivotal’s association with Group 1 winners on Saturday afternoon’s QIPCO British Champions Day as he is a Group 1 winning son of the Cheveley Park Stud kingpin.

Harry Peter-Hoblyn, racing manager to Al Asayl Bloodstock, commented after the race: “It’s fantastic to see The Revenant win his first Group 1 today. That’s exactly what you hope for when you send a mare to Dubawi. He has proven time and time again that he is one of the best sires in the world, which is exactly why Hazel Lavery is in foal to him again and is going back to him again in 2021.”