Betfred Champagne Stakes
Group 2, Doncaster 13:50
£150,000 guaranteed,
2yo only, 7f 6y,
Class 1   
Saturday 13th September 2025

1 Puerto Rico 15/2
2 Oxagon 13/8
3 Cape Orator 9/1
5 ran Distances: 1l, 1¾l, 1¼l
Time: 1m 25.93s (slow by 2.83s)

Puerto Rico has blazed a relentless trail from the outset, making every yard of the running to finally break his maiden and win in striking fashion.

Aidan O’Brien’s colt, sent off at 15-2 and expertly handled by Sean Levey, flew the lids in the driving rain, with 6-5 favourite Gewan tucked in behind as the field splashed through a downpour on Town Moor. Levey controlled matters up front, dictating only a measured gallop, before pressing the button two furlongs from home. Puerto Rico lengthened willingly, digging in to repel the fast-finishing Oxagon by a length, while Gewan wilted tamely in the closing strides.

From winless in five attempts to a sharp Classic contender in the space of seven furlongs, bookmakers duly slashed Puerto Rico to 12-1 (from 40s) for next month’s Futurity Trophy back on this very course. Watching from Leopardstown, O’Brien enthused: “Sean gave him a lovely ride. He’s coming forward and getting better. He was the best maiden in Europe!

“You’d have to be very happy with him. He’ll stay further, too.”

Kevin Buckley, representing the Coolmore team, was equally satisfied: “It looked like a very decent race (beforehand), (but) he’d had a couple of nice runs recently and he did it nicely – Sean gave him an exceptional ride, too.”

Levey, who judged the fractions to perfection, reflected on the tactical call: “I would have been happy to have taken a lead, but one thing with these horses – they are happy in front.

“Oisin’s (Murphy) horse (Oxagon) was keen last time and probably lacked experience so he won’t have wanted that to happen again.

“My lad was very straightforward. He’s danced a few dances and had plenty of experience, we got into a nice rhythm, he picked up quite nicely there and showed that he’s a good horse, especially now up to seven.

“He was beautifully settled. At the four marker when I was just starting to wind it up he was just filling his lungs up. When he got to the two he still had plenty in reserve.

“He quickened up nicely. He had plenty of experience and I think it showed.”

Defeated trainer John Gosden, who co-handles Oxagon with his son Thady, found encouragement despite the narrow miss: “It was only his third race and he didn’t learn much in his first one. Sean’s horse has been sprinting and he’s led at a sensible pace, kicked, nicked three lengths and we’re getting it back at the end.

“We’re getting it back too late and I liked the way he finished strongly.

“The Futurity is a long way off but we may well do (come back), it looked like the mile would be no problem to me. He’s by Frankel so that could be a strong possibility for him.”

Cape Orator came through late to grab third, while Gewan trailed in fourth, four lengths adrift—a run Andrew Balding could only label “disappointing.” The trainer admitted: “PJ (McDonald) just felt he didn’t have the action he had at York on the ground so we learned something and it’s disappointing but we will regroup.

“He never felt comfortable as soon as he sat into him but we’ve learnt something.”

Champagne Stakes (Group 2)
£150,000 guaranteed, 2yo only, 7f 6y, Class 1
5 ran
Going: Good, Good to Soft in places

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (3)    Puerto Rico 2 9-2 A P O'Brien Sean Levey 15/2
2 (4) 1 Oxagon 2 9-2 John & Thady Gosden Oisin Murphy 13/8
3 (1) 1¾ Cape Orator 2 9-2 Ralph Beckett Hector Crouch 9/1
4 (2) 1¼ Gewan 2 9-2 Andrew Balding P J McDonald 6/5F
5 (5) 5 Cape Ashizuri 2 9-2 John & Sean Quinn Jason Hart 33/1

RECENT WINNERS
Year Horse Trainer Jockey Owner SP

2024 Bay City Roller
2023 Iberian
2022 Chaldean
2021 Bayside Boy
2020 Chindit
2019 Threat
2018 Too Darn Hot
2017 Seahenge
2016 Rivet W J Haggas Andrea Atzeni The Starship Partnership 7/4f
2015 Emotionless C Appleby W Buick Godolphin 8/13f
2014 Estidhkaar Richard Hannon Paul Hanagan Hamdan Al Maktoum 10/11f
2013 Outstrip Charlie Appleby Mikael Barzalona Godolphin 13/8 jf
2012 Toronado Richard Hannon Richard Hughes Carmichael Humber 11/4
2011 Trumpet Major Richard Hannon Richard Hughes John Manley 7/1
2010 Saamidd Saeed bin Suroor Frankie Dettori Godolphin 5/6 fav
2009 Poet’s Voice Saeed bin Suroor Frankie Dettori Godolphin 10/1
2008 Westphalia Aidan O’Brien IRE Johnny Murtagh M Tabor, D Smith, S Magnier 100/30
2007 McCartney Mark Johnston Ryan Moore Sheikh Mohammed 8/1
2006 Vital Equine Eoghan O'Neill Richard Mullen Fasthandle Ltd 16/1
2005 DH Close To You Terry Mills John Egan Miss J A Leighs 8/1
DH Silent Times Eoghan O'Neiill Jamie Spencer John Fretwell 6/1
2004 Etlaala Barry Hills Richard Hills Hamdan Al Maktoum 6/1
2003 Lucky Story Mark Johnston Darryll Holland Abdulla Buhaleeba 2/1
2002 Almushahar David Loder Frankie Dettori Hamdan Al Maktoum 8/11 fav
2001 Dubai Destination David Loder Frankie Dettori Sheikh Mohammed 3/1
2000 Noverre David Loder FR Frankie Dettori Godolphin SNC 7/2
1999 Distant Music Barry Hills Michael Hills Khalid Abdullah 13/8 fav