Darkness Falls claims the Dewhurst & the world’s best racehorse heads to The Everest
- Darkness Falls made it back-to-back G1 wins with a thrilling victory over Desert Castle in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket – Aidan O’Brien’s colt is now favourite for next year’s 2000 Guineas, with an intriguing Triple Crown attempt mooted by the Irish trainer
- Musical Times remains unbeaten in four starts after landing the Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket for Charlie Appleby – one to watch for the 1000 Guineas in May
- Warwoven completed the Golden Rose and Caulfield Guineas double, cementing his status as Australia’s most exciting three-year-old ahead of the spring carnival
- Ka Ying Rising – currently ranked the world’s best racehorse and winner of 22 consecutive races – heads to Randwick on Saturday to defend his Everest title against Australian rivals Joliestar and Jimmysstar
- Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday promises one of the races of the season, with Ombudsman and Calandagan – two of Europe’s finest – set to clash in the Champion Stakes
Continue reading for a full round-up across Australia, France, New Zealand, Mauritius, the UK and the USA – and a look ahead to The Everest and Champions Day.
What’s Happened
Australia
There was an upset in the G1 Might and Power Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday, Land Legend downing the mighty Sheza Alibi. It was a second G1 win for Ciaron Maher’s six-year-old, who held on by a short head under jockey Ethan Brown.
Warwoven again staked his claim for Australia’s best three-year-old, completing the G1 Golden Rose and G1 Caulfield Guineas double. Ridden by Rachel King, Bjorn Baker’s colt beat Blind Raise by a length and three-quarters, sparking the now trademark celebrations from the ebullient trainer.
Lady Shenandoah won her first race in 574 days and gave James McDonald and Chris Waller their first G1 Toorak Handicap. McDonald had to be patient, however, getting Lady Shenandoah through the tiniest of gaps before she could win by a head from Changing Colours.
Jigsaw made it four wins on the spin in the G2 Schillaci Stakes, justifying favouritism for trainer Cindy Alderson and jockey Logan Bates. There was a great finish to the day’s other G2, the Herbert Power Stakes, Pinhole beating outsider Suntora and 2024 Melbourne Cup winner Knight’s Choice by a nose and a short neck.
At Rosehill, there was a minor upset in the featured G2 Hill Stakes, when Attrition downed favourite Lindermann. Jamie Mott’s mount was ahead by a neck at the line, for trainer Michael Freedman.
The G2 Roman Consul Stakes went to Satono Glow, for Zac Lloyd and trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton. Lloyd also took the G3 Gloaming Stakes, riding Proxima Dea for David Payne.
France
Andre and Lavinia Fabre celebrated another Group race win on Saturday, when Al Hamaad won the G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte at Chantilly. Ridden by Oisin Murphy, the two-year-old is now two from three career.
New Zealand
Waitak became the first male to go back-to-back in the G1 Livamol Classic in 42 years. It was a fifth G1 win for the seven-year-old, ridden by jockey Craig Grylls for trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott.
Mauritius
Cumbre Veija took his unbeaten record to 10, winning the G1 Princess Margaret Cup at Champ de Mars on Saturday. The Paul Foo Kune-trained star had to overcome some trouble in running in the 1400metre feature under jockey Manoel Nunes.
UK
Darkness Falls made it two G1 wins in a row, narrowly beating Desert Castle in a thrilling edition of the G1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday. Aidan O’Brien’s colt, ridden by Ryan Moore, was dropping back in trip from the 1800metre G1 Royal Fleece at Leopardstown to 1400metres here but took it in his stride and is now favourite for the 2000 Guineas. Intriguingly, O’Brien has also mooted the possibility of a Triple Crown attempt for the versatile colt.
The first of the G1s took place on Friday, when Appleby’s Musical Times and William Buick extricated themselves from a succession of closed gaps to land the Fillies’ Mile. The chestnut filly is now four from four and will be given the winter off ahead of the 1000 Guineas back at Newmarket in May.
G1 winner Never So Brave got back to winning ways in the G2 Challenge Stakes, leading home an Andrew Balding-trained one-two from Flora Of Bermuda. The five-year-old could have December’s G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile on his agenda.
There was an upset in the G3 Oh So Sharp Stakes, Rod Millman’s Lola De Valence scoring at 40/1 under Saffie Osborne, while Richard and Peter Fahey’s Mussab is Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint-bound after his win in the opening G3 Cornwallis Stakes.
Song Of The Clouds came back from a minor fracture in May to win the G3 Pride Stakes, with trainer William Haggas indicating she may be G1 class in future.
USA
Tam Tam did it from the front in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland on Saturday, making it two G1s in a row. Phil Bauer’s filly had plenty in reserve to hold off Faithful Departed by two and a half lengths.
The G2 Sycamore Stakes on Friday went to Lambeth for trainer Joe Sharp, who beat Limited Liability by a length in the hands of Jose Ortiz. Sharp didn’t rule out a swift return for the five-year-old, in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf over course and distance in three weeks’ time.
Things got tight in Sunday’s G2 Franklin Stakes, for fillies and mares. Mark Casse’s Time To Dazzle made it home in front as the favourite, but only just, beating Kehoe Beach by a nose under jockey Irad Ortiz.
What’s Happening
Australia
It’s a huge weekend in Australia, where the G1 Caulfield Cup and Thousand Guineas take centre stage at Caulfield. Enfjaar, trained in the UK by Roger Varian, is an intriguing overseas entry for the former, likely taking on a Ciaron Maher trio of Royal Supremacy, Zahrann and Kings Valley. 2024 Melbourne Cup winner Knight’s Choice is also a probable runner.
In Sydney, it’s all about the world’s best racehorse, Ka Ying Rising who defends his crown in the G1 Everest at Randwick on Saturday. It won’t be easy for the Hong Kong star, however, who faces multiple G1 winners Joliestar and Jimmysstar.
The G1 King Charles III Stakes, won for the last two years by Ceolwulf, is the main supporting race in Sydney. The defending champ goes again in a top-notch renewal which also features Autumn Glow, Mr Brightside and Beiwatch among the nominations.
Canada
Woodbine hosts two G3s on Saturday, the Ontario Derby and Ontario Fashion Stakes.
Japan
The G1 Shuka Sho – the final leg of the Triple Tiara - takes precedence at Kyoto on Sunday, while the G2 Fuji Stakes, over 1600metres at Tokyo, is the feature on Saturday.
UK
The UK flat season stages its final big hurrah at Ascot, with Champions Day marching into town. There are five G1s on the seven-race card, with Ombudsman likely to top the contenders for the Champion Stakes, taking on defending champion Calandagan.
The QEII has attracted Gstaad, for Aidan O’Brien, and Ed Walker’s G1 Queen Anne Stakes winner Ten Bob Tony, while European Champion Sprinter-elect Almeraq takes on G1 Flying Five winner Comanche Brave in the Champions Sprint.
USA
With the Breeders’ Cup on the horizon, it’s a quiet one Stateside. Keeneland warms up for the big jamboree with the G2 Lexus Raven Run Stakes for three-year-old fillies and G3 Perryville Stakes on Saturday, and the G3 Rood & Riddle Dowager Stakes on Sunday.
