Aidan O'Brien dominates in France & Zac Purton reaches historic milestone in Hong Kong
Aidan O'Brien didn't just win the French Derby on Sunday - he took the first three places. Constitution River, Hawk Mountain and Montreal crossed the line to complete a remarkable 1-2-3 sweep in a Classic.
O'Brien goes again this weekend, this time at Epsom, for a fourth straight Derby title and a record 13th overall - with Benvenuto Cellini, a horse his trainer has compared to the legendary Galileo.
This week's WHR Weekly has everything from that Chantilly masterclass to the big races ahead - including Calandagan's bid for a sixth straight G1, the Belmont Stakes, and a Japanese Derby winner with Triple Crown ambitions.
Read it here 👇
What’s Happened
🇦🇺 Australia 🇦🇺
Multiple G1 winner Jimmysstar and comeback king Rothfire were both in the mix in the G1 Kingsford Smith Cup at Eagle Farm on Saturday, but it was Headley Grange who landed the spoils. Joseph Pride’s five-year-old just beat Jimmysstar by a neck under Adam Hyeronimus to claim his first top level win.
Earlier, James McDonald and Chris Waller combined for yet another G1 when Providence took the Queensland Derby, beating Monopolistic by a length.
There was a shock in the G2 Straight Sires’ Produce which went to outsider Berzelius, who beat Vantorix by a neck for trainer Michael Freedman and jockey Tommy Berry.
🇨🇱 Chile 🇨🇱
Eccentric has a guaranteed spot in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland in November after winning the Gran Premio Club Hípico Falabella at Santiago on Sunday. Trained by Patricio Baeza, he beat favourite Noche Sublime in the hands of jockey Oscar Ulloa.
🇫🇷 France 🇫🇷
Aidan O’Brien completed a clean sweep of Sunday’s G1 Prix du Jockey-Club, saddling the first three home. Favourite Constitution River and Ryan Moore overcame a wide draw to secure the win over stablemates Hawk Mountain and Montreal. It was a third win in the race for O’Brien, who will now give Constitution River a break before aiming him at a Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe trial in the Autumn.
Multiple G1 winner Goliath was the star of the undercard, winning the G2 Prix de Chantilly under Christophe Soumillion. It was a good day for his trainer Francis Graffard who also won the G3 Prix de Royaumont with Behrayna, ridden by Mickael Barzalona.
Later, Naomis took the G2 Prix de Sandringham for trainer Henri-Alex Pantall, while Andre Fabre’s Sajir landed a competitive renewal of the G2 Prix du Gros-Chene, earning himself a trip to Royal Ascot.
🇩🇪 Germany 🇩🇪
Title Role took the G2 German 2000 Guineas at Cologne on Monday, keeping up the good recent run of British-trained winners in the race. The Simon and Ed Crisford-trained colt became the third UK-based horse in the last six years to take the 1600metre event, beating Shayem, in the hands of Sean Levey.
Six days later, the G2 1000 Guineas went to favourite Timeforshowcasing, giving British trainer Charlie Johnston a Classic success. Ridden by Jack Mitchell, she beat Indifferente by a length and a half.
🇭🇰 Hong Kong 🇭🇰
Zac Purton reached the landmark of 2000 winners in Hong Kong, partnering Rising World to success at Sha Tin on Sunday.
The card also staged two G3s, the first of which, the Lion Rock Trophy, went to Light Years Charm under Jerry Chau. It was a first G3 win for trainer David Eustace, now in his second season training in Hong Kong. An hour later, Patch Of Stars justified favouritism in the Sha Tin Vase, for trainer Manfred Man and jockey Karis Teetan.
🇯🇵 Japan 🇯🇵
There was a dramatic conclusion to the G1 Tokyo Yunshun, the Japanese Derby, on Sunday when favourite Lovcen left it late to grab the win. Ridden by Kohei Matsuyama for trainer Haruki Sugiyama, he beat Peintre Naif by a head to secure his third G1 success and set up a bid for the Triple Crown.
There was also a close finish to the G2 Meguro Kinen, which went to the Damian Lane-ridden Feiern Kranz. The Noriyuki Hori-trained four-year-old beat favourite Victor Verus by a neck.
🇿🇦 South Africa 🇿🇦
Well-travelled French jockey Mickaelle Michel landed the first G1 of her career on Star Major in the Daily News 2000 at Greyville. Trained by James Crawford, the colt followed up his G2 WSB Guineas win in some style, storming past his rivals for a length and a half win.
🇬🇧 UK 🇬🇧
Ombudsman returned to UK winning form in the G3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown on Thursday – but only just. Making his first start since winning the G1 Dubai Turf in March, John & Thady Gosden’s five-year-old held off Gethin by a neck under William Buick. He now faces a fascinating clash with Arc hero Daryz in the G1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Ten-year-old Dubai Future rolled back the years on his 39th start, taking the G3 Henry II Stakes. Ridden by David Probert who timed his run to perfection, he beat Sweet William by a diminishing neck. Trainer Saeed bin Suroor confirmed that the G1 Gold Cup at Ascot, in which he was third last year, is next up for the veteran.
Royal Ascot is also on the agenda for Charlie Appleby’s Talk Of New York, who will face Bow Echo and Gstaad in the G1 St James’s Palace Stakes after running away with the Listed Heron Stakes.
🇺🇸 USA 🇺🇸
Santa Anita staged two G1s on Monday, starting with the Gamely Stakes, which went to Thought Process, registering her first top level victory. The four-year-old was ridden by Hector Berrios for a two and a three-quarter length victory over Rashmi.
Breeders’ Cup Mile runner-up Formidable Man made his first start since a winning one in the G1 Shoemaker Mile. Trained by Michael McCarthy and ridden by Flavien Prat, he beat Almandares by a length and a quarter.
On Friday, Alpyland picked up his first Graded Stakes win in the G3 Penn Mile, the biggest race of the year at Penn National. The three-year-old is trained by Mark Casse and was ridden by Javier Castellano.
Back at Santa Anita on Saturday, trainer Aggie Ordonez played the unusual move of running Om N Joy back after a week in the G2 Santa Margarita Stakes. The tactic paid off when she improved on the previous week’s Fran's Valentine Stakes seventh with a three and three-quarter length win under Kent Desormeaux.
What’s Happening
🇦🇺 Australia 🇦🇺
The G1 Queensland Oaks is the feature at Eagle Farm on Saturday. The 2400metre race was won in 2015 by the great Winx.
🇮🇹 Italy 🇮🇹
It’s Italian Derby Day in Milan on Tuesday, with 16 lining up for the G2 colts’ Classic at San Siro. They include Venetian Prince, last seen running down the field in the Newmarket Guineas, for British trainer Andrew Balding.
On the same card, G1 winner Facteur Cheval faces just five rivals in the G3 Premio Presidente Della Repubblica. Trained by Jerome Reynier, he will be ridden by Antonio Orani for the first time.
🇯🇵 Japan 🇯🇵
The G1 Yasuda Kinen takes place at Tokyo over a mile. One of the most prestigious races on the Japanese calendar, it was won in 2024 by the great Romantic Warrior – a rare overseas victor. Gaia Force, Luxor Café and Panja Tower are among this year’s field.
🇬🇧 UK 🇬🇧
The G1 Derby is the headline act in the UK this weekend, with Aidan O’Brien’s Benvenuto Cellini the tentative favourite over Andrew Balding’s Item. The G1 Coronation Cup also takes place at Epsom on Saturday, with Calandagan going for a sixth straight Group 1, his last defeat having come at the hands of Jan Brueghel in this race last year.
Friday’s feature is the G1 Oaks, in which O’Brien has Amelia Earhart and Precise prominent in the market, alongside John and Thady Gosden’s Musidora winner Legacy Link.
🇺🇸 USA 🇺🇸
The G1 Belmont Stakes takes place at Saratoga for the third and final time. Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo faces a re-match with runner up Renegade.
The Met Mile, Jaipur, Just A Game, Manhattan and Woody Stephens are Saturday’s supporting Grade 1s, while Friday’s action is headlined by the Acorn Stakes, Ogden Phipps and New York Stakes. The G2 Belmont Gold Cup offers a ‘win and you’re in’ entry to the Melbourne Cup.
It might only be a G3, but the clash between Book’em Danno and Breeders’ Cup hero Bentornato in the True North Stakes promises to be one of the races of the weekend.
