Five recent Champion Stakes winners to remember ahead of Champions Day

With Champions Day at Ascot approaching in October, racing fans are beginning to look towards one of the most prestigious fixtures on the British Flat calendar. For those looking to bet on horse racing, the Champion Stakes is one of the standout contests to keep an eye on, with plenty of star names likely to attract attention as the big meeting draws closer.

Whether you prefer to study the form or back a runner at the track, looking back at previous winners can provide an interesting insight into the quality required to succeed.

The Champion Stakes has produced some memorable winners in recent seasons, with the roll of honour featuring horses from some of the biggest names in European racing. Here are the five most recent winners.

2025 – Calandagan

Calandagan added his name to the Champion Stakes roll of honour in 2025, producing another major performance for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard and jockey Mickael Barzalona.

The victory was particularly significant given Calandagan’s outstanding season at Ascot. Having already won the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at the course, he became only the second horse to complete the Ascot double in the same year.

His Champion Stakes success confirmed his position among the leading middle-distance horses of the season and provided a memorable finale to his campaign.

2024 – Anmaat

Anmaat was the winner in 2024, with Jim Crowley partnering the six-year-old to victory for trainer Owen Burrows.

The success added another Group 1 prize to an accomplished career and continued the Champion Stakes’ tradition of producing experienced, high-class performers.

Anmaat’s victory was also notable for the international depth of the field, highlighting the appeal of the race beyond British shores.

2023 – King Of Steel

King Of Steel claimed the Champion Stakes in 2023, with Frankie Dettori aboard for trainer Roger Varian.

The three-year-old had already established himself as one of the leading horses of his generation and delivered another high-class performance over the 10-furlong trip.

The victory proved to be one of the highlights of an impressive campaign and ensured King Of Steel joined an elite group of Champion Stakes winners.

2022 – Bay Bridge

Bay Bridge gave Sir Michael Stoute another major Ascot success when winning the Champion Stakes in 2022.

Ridden by Richard Kingscote, the four-year-old arrived at the meeting with a strong reputation and delivered when it mattered most.

For Stoute, the victory represented another significant Group 1 success at a track where the trainer has enjoyed considerable success throughout his career.

2021 – Sealiway

Sealiway provided the most recent French-trained victory before the subsequent British and Irish successes, winning the Champion Stakes in 2021.

Partnered by Barzalona and trained by Cedric Rossi, Sealiway produced an impressive performance to defeat a strong field.

His victory was another reminder that the Champion Stakes has long attracted Europe’s leading trainers, jockeys and horses.

With the 2026 renewal now on the horizon, another chapter is ready to be added to this prestigious race’s history. The question is which horse will produce the performance required to join these five recent winners among the names remembered long after Champions Day is over.