Prague Joins Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Showdown with Charyn

Prague has been supplemented for the prestigious Qipco-sponsored Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Saturday, with connections paying a £70,000 fee to enter the race. The horse's journey has been one of the season's most heartwarming stories. Initially purchased for just 10,000 guineas as an unraced colt from Aidan O’Brien’s yard, Prague now races for trainer Dylan Cunha and owner Amedeo Dal Pos, who is also a stable lad in Cunha’s yard.

Prague's rise has been remarkable, winning the Group Two Joel Stakes last month at 40-1 odds on debut. With soft ground expected at Ascot, the team is aiming high for Qipco British Champions Day. Cunha, a Group One-winning trainer from South Africa, said, “He handled soft ground well in the Joel Stakes. After working nicely on Saturday, we feel it’s worth taking a shot.”

Although facing tough competition, especially from Roger Varian’s standout miler Charyn, Cunha remains optimistic. "Prague is only 5lbs behind Charyn in official ratings, and while he needs to improve, he's in great form. You don’t always get a horse in this kind of shape, so we’re going for it."

The field could feature 16 runners, including top contenders like Charyn, who has dominated the mile distance this season, as well as other notable names like Tamfana, Nashwa, and Diego Velazquez. Prague’s team is hopeful that their decision to supplement him will pay off on race day.